When the jazz composer is the soloist, which is usually the case, he or she ironically revives one of the most venerable traditions in classical music.
The Continents: Concerto for Jazz Quintet and Chamber Orchestra
Jazz Review / Commentary: Chick Corea’s “The Continents” and the Problem of the Jazz Piano Concerto
Chick Corea’s “The Continents: Concerto for Jazz Quintet and Chamber Orchestra” is filled with tuneful melody, shows off some superb playing by the soloists, breaks new ground in a number of ways, and achieves nearly all of its ambitions.