Spain by Chick Corea

[jim simpson]

I've always liked Chick's composition which I believe is from "light as a feather" with Flora Purim on vocals. I was pleased to hear it by the Dawg on the Dawg compilation set. Does anyone here play this and if so, what key? I'm trying to play it from memory but need to dig out the recording to play along.

[Bruce Clausen]

I play it in a gypsy jazz group. We do it like the original, in B minor (the "Aranjuez" part), then D major alternating with B minor for the fast part. Works very well on mando.

BC

[journeybear]

What a brilliant idea! I would love to hear your version once you get it down. Meanwhile, to help you along, Ye Olde YouTube to the rescue. What isn't there? I wonder sometimes ...




Also, Chick Corea, Bobby McFerrin, and Bela Fleck. Takes them a while to get going, but when they do ...





There are also versions by Stevie Wonder and others, but you can do that exploration for yourself.

[jim simpson]

Bruce and journeybear,
Excellent! Thank you, that's really helpful.
Jim

[AlanN]

Great to see the interaction bt. Chick and Bela - piano and banjo, what a pair

When Bela released his Crossing The Tracks LP on Rounder in 1980, the inclusion of Spain was far-out! Sam Bush, Bob Applebaum, Russ Barenburg, Bela Fleck, Mark Schatz - that was one great record, need to transfer that over.

[catmandu2]

I play it on guitar -- B min

Flora's recent work is very good, too.

[margora]

The piano score of "Spain" was published in a compilation by Warner Brothers in 1976; also in the same book are "500 Hundred Miles High", "La Fiesta", and "Crystal Silence". Out of print I am sure but not impossible to find (I found my copy in a used bookstore in Boston).