Chick Corea is one of the legendary figures of jazz. He’s a pianist, a 23-times Grammy award winner and he’s played with all the jazz greats, like Miles Davis. He’s also recognised the world over as a composer, with hits like “Spain” and work ranging from bebop to fusion, works for children and symphonic works for classical players.

In January this year, reporter Renata Sago began recording with Chick as he composed a new Trio Concerto for bass, drums and himself on piano. It was to have its first performance at the MUPA concert hall in Hungary’s capital Budapest in March. In his studio in Florida USA, Renata talks to him about how he writes and where his many sources of inspiration come from. And she hears from Chick that although he’s composed the music he’ll be performing, sometimes it’s not easy to play and he has to do a lot of practising!

The pandemic meant that the premiere was later cancelled – but Covid-19 hasn’t slowed Chick down. In fact during the past few months he’s been taking on new projects and is looking forward to playing in front of a live audience again for the first time for months.

Renata catches up with him again to find out what he’s working on now, how he’s found a new audience in lockdown and how he turns to all kinds of musical styles to help him accomplish the goal of art.