Chick Corea to Write Trombone Concerto for Joseph Alessi and New York Philharmonic

Update on August 4, 2021: This Concerto will receive its World Premiere with the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra on Thursday, August 5, 2021.

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The jazz pianist Chick Corea has always had a knack for classical music. Starting at the age of eight, Corea was introduced to classical music in his piano lessons with Salvatore Sullo. Since then, he has traveled on a journey of solo and collaborative artistry that has led him to perform with jazz icons including Miles Davis, Gary Burton, and Herbie Hancock … just to name a “few.” But even as a winner of over 20 Grammy Awards, Corea still pushes the boundaries in recording, producing, and composing just as much as he ever has.

Corea has written major classical compositions such as piano concertos and a concerto for small jazz group and chamber orchestra. His understanding of orchestration is highly skilled as he pulls his creative energy from composers such as Mozart, Stravinsky, and Bartok. As a major cross-genre musician, Corea has worked with artists including Bobby McFerrin, and Béla Fleck, and has performed with orchestras such as the Seattle Symphony, the Oregon Symphony, and the London Philharmonic.

Now, Corea will be pushed to another exciting moment in his career. He has been announced as the Artist-in-Residence of the New York Philharmonic for the 2020-2021 season. Included on the docket of new compositions is a Trombone Concerto for Joseph Alessi, Principal Trombone of the New York Philharmonic, with Jaap van Zweden conducting the premiere. This commissioned work will be premiered in June of 2021 in David Geffen Hall, the home of the New York Philharmonic. As one legend writes for another legend, this is destined to be an important addition to the trombone repertoire.

Click here for more information about the dates for this performance.