2007年VOA标准英语-Chick Corea, Bela Fleck Collaborate On New CD

Jazz piano meets the banjo on a new recording¹ by two of today's most-respected musicians, pianist Chick Corea and banjoist Bela Fleck².  VOA's Doug Levine tells us about this unlikely musical pairing and their enchanting³ new CD, The Enchantment⁴.

While The Enchantment is Bela Fleck and Chick Corea's first-ever full-length collaboration⁶, it isn't the first time the two have worked side-by-side.  Corea appeared on two albums with Bela Fleck and The Flecktones in the 1990s.  Fleck returned the favor by playing banjo on Corea's live album Rendezvous⁷ In New York, featuring singer Bobby McFerrin.

Fleck says he realized that the banjo would work in the context of jazz after hearing a recording of Chick Corea's composition Spain.  He calls it "one of those defining moments."  Likewise, Chick Corea has always been fascinated by Fleck's music, saying, "When I first listened to The Flecktones, I heard a completely fresh sound."

The Enchantment not only unites two giants of the jazz world, but it melds a variety of musical influences; from ragtime⁸, blues⁹ and classical to bluegrass, country, Latin and world music.  Bela composed six songs on the album and Chick wrote four. 

Chick Corea and Bela Fleck made their debut¹⁰ as a duo with a February concert in Daytona Beach, Florida.  After a short break, their Enchantment tour resumes in June with appearances at two jazz festivals and a bluegrass festival.