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    Reuniting after 10 years, Chick Corea's all-star Elecktric Band will be back in Hong Kong in May to celebrate the group's 20th anniversary and launch the opening concert of the big annual "Jazz Up" event.

    The concert will feature performances by Chick Corea on piano and keyboards, Frank Gambale on guitar, Eric Marienthal on saxophone, Ric Fierabracci on bass and Dave Weckl on drums.

    "(Chick Corea) A pioneer on the electric keyboards ... a cornerstone stylist who developed a jazz language on the instrument." --Wall Street Journal.

    Flourishing from 1985 to the mid 1990s, The Chick Corea Elektric Band has reunited for the latest album "To The Stars" with original band members last year (the original bassist is John Patitucci). Chick Corea is again blazing trails through a new frontier of electrifying, creative music, with fusion of South American style, jazz-rock, R&B and crossover jazz.

    "The Elektric Band had just got back together after 10 years and the wide breadth of color and virtuosity that the band could achieve became the ideal palette to realise this musical dream ... But the most importantly, the band's high spirits became infectious and inspirational, enabling me to write this music in a very special way, knowing that it would be so well-cared for by them ...  Now, it's our gift to you" says Chick Corea.

    Chick Corea's four-decade career is the stuff of jazz lore, an amalgamation of influential, limit-stretching musical experiences which have filled many a page in 20th century music history encyclopedias. Corea began playing piano when he was four and, early on, he joined Miles Davis' band playing electric piano. From there, Corea formed his own avante-garde improvisational group, "Circle". In 1971, he changed directions again and went the electronic fusion route in his new band "Return to Forever". In 1985, Corea formed a new fusion group, "Elektric Band". Chick Corea has won 12 Grammy awards. At the end of 2000, the Chick Corea New Trio's year tour has generated excitement with sold out, from Russia, Japan, South America, Europe as well as the US.

    Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, "The Chick Corea Elektric Band", one of the programmes in "Jazz Up" series, will be staged at 8pm on May 5 (Thursday) at the Arena, Queen Elizabeth Stadium.

    Tickets priced at $450, $350, $250 and $150 are available at URBTIX outlets. Half-price tickets are available for senior citizens, people with disabilities, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients. (Limited tickets for students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients available on a first-come, first-served basis.) For details about other discounts, please refer to the programme leaflet.

    For programme enquiries, call 2268 7321; for ticketing enquiries and reservations, call 2734 9009; for credit card telephone bookings, call 2111 5999; for internet bookings, visit www.urbtix.hk; for more information, visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/cp.

    Another Jazz Up highlight will be the concert by Patti Austin to be staged on May 16. A 10% discount applies to each purchase of standard tickets for two Jazz Up concerts: "The Chick Corea Elektric Band" and "Patti Austin".

Ends/Friday, March 18, 2005

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