Spain - Chick Corea and Return to Forever (Drum Cover)

Today’s drum cover is a personal favorite of mine for this year. Here’s why … for the last month I have been working on songs from this album. I considered “Spain” the hardest of the three songs I released so I’m working on it last. A few years ago, I tried this song and scrapped it after an hour! I was not in the place to make it feel good. I’ve always said I’m a rock/commercial music drummer. When I studied drumming in college my goal was to be a working musician. I was around great jazz drummers and musicians so playing jazz respectably has been a goal my whole life. Anyhow, playing samba jazz after almost 50 years at this level made smile!
This weekend I cut this song in the usual one hour time frame I give my other rock covers. The previous songs from this album took me a few hours on each song. So working up to the harder song seemed to work for me. I’m far from a jazz drummer, but my love of this music come out. After working on this music I get the importance of pulsing the ride cymbal through the song to drive the band. This is a different approach to drumming than backbeat grooves. Anyhow, I’m proud of my work on this one. I hope you enjoy it!
“Spain" is an instrumental jazz fusion composition by jazz pianist and composer Chick Corea. It is likely Corea's most recognized piece, and is considered a jazz standard.
"Spain" was composed in 1971 and appeared in its original (and best-known) rendition on the album Light as a Feather, with performances by Corea (Rhodes electric piano), Airto Moreira (drums), Flora Purim (vocals and percussion), Stanley Clarke (bass), and Joe Farrell (flute).[6] It has been recorded in several versions, by Corea himself as well as by other artists, including a flamenco version by Paco de Lucía, Al Di Meola and John McLaughlin in the 1980s, and a progressive bluegrass version by Béla Fleck in 1979. A version with lyrics by Al Jarreau, "Spain (I Can Recall)", appeared on the 1980 album This Time. More recently, Corea had performed his composition as a duo with Japanese pianist Hiromi Uehara. A version of "Spain" was performed by Stevie Wonder at his 2008 Concert in London. The introduction used in the song is from Concierto de Aranjuez, a guitar concerto by the Spanish composer Joaquín Rodrigo.
The Light as a Feather version of "Spain" received two Grammy nominations, for Best Instrumental Arrangement and for Best Instrumental Jazz Performance by a Group. In 2001, Corea was awarded the Best Instrumental Arrangement Grammy for "Spain for Sextet and Orchestra".
Corea opens the Light as a Feather version of "Spain" with the adagio from Joaquin Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez. Corea took inspiration from Spanish flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucia for this piece. After the intro, the song switches to a fast, steady samba-like rhythm, in which the main theme and an improvisation part are repeated.
The chord progression used during the improvisation part is based on harmonic progressions in Rodrigo's concerto. It runs as follows:
| Gmaj7 | F#7 | Em7 A7 | Dmaj7 (Gmaj7) | C#7 F#7 | Bm B7 |
Drums:
Gretsch - 8x10, 9x13, 16x16, 14x20
Gretsch COB - 5x14
Paiste - 14" 505 Medium Bottom/2000 Regular SE Bottom, 16" 2002 Thin Crash, 18" 2002 Crash, 20" Giant Beat Multi, Stack - 11" Noise works Splash, 10" PST 7 Splash, 10" PSTX Splash, 20" A Zildijan Flat Top Ride Modified by Timothy Robert
Now available Earldrum's Spring Store
my-store-d5134...-sprin...
Please check out my series on how to make a drum cover in this playlist
• How I Make A Drum Cover (Series)
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[@RichRawDawgdrums]

It takes a well rehearsed drummer to play songs with the jazz legend drummer Chick Corea! Just amazing, Earl!

[@earldrum]

Thanks for watching Rich! Yea, it’s fun working on music outside my comfort zone like Chick Corea, The Knack, and the Offspring! All are challenging in different ways. I’m committed to learning! Thanks for the encouragement!

[@waltonbrown]

Wow Earl, Chick Corea!! Again, it shows how diverse and talented you are my friend, super Aussie hug bro 🥰🥰🥰

[@earldrum]

Thank you so much Walton! 😊👍🏻🙏🏻

[@mickeyf3730]

Great job! To break all of that in an hour and play it so well is amazing!!

[@earldrum]

@@mickeyf3730 thanks for the feedback and encouragement Mickey! I felt really good about this one! Thanks! 🙏🏻😊👍🏻🥁

[@3L3V3NDRUMS]

Beautiful cover man! Sounds amazing as always! Love the camera angle from the TOP. You can see what's going on!🤘🤘🤘

[@earldrum]

@@3L3V3NDRUMS thanks for the feedback Toby! I like too … it’s a little crowded behind my kit, but it’s a cool camera shot! 🙏🏻😊👍🏻

[@drumcitybob5927]

Excellent Earl! Love the tune and your playing on it was fantastic!! Ride cymbal, particularly the stick definition is great! Thank you for sharing!! 👍👍👍🥁🥁🥁🔥🔥🎶 3:24

[@earldrum]

Thank you kindly Bob! Yea that flat ride is really beautiful man! It’s a cymbal mod from Timothy Roberts Cymbals! It was worth every Penny I spent … I’m very happy with it!

[@polyticks8453]

You letting loosing during Corea's solo was splendid. Enjoyed you grooving to Corea's groove, Earl!

[@earldrum]

Glad you enjoyed it my friend! It fun just grooving with one! 🙏🏻😊👍🏻

[@edwardkaminsky8142]

Agree on the top camera angle. It let's us see all extremities working independently which is huge for individuals trying to play enen a small tidbit of this tune. The ride work as well as the sound is captivating. Smooth.

[@earldrum]

@@edwardkaminsky8142 thanks for watching and the encouragement Ed! I like this angle too! I might use it more often … it’s not easy to set up … but it looks cool! 🙏🏻😊👍🏻🥁

[@Ds_Drums]

Wow! Get down wit it Earl Hammer. I can see the goofing about is pretty much over with now. You came to play on the day of that session i tell ya. That was amazing. And you broke out a flattie well you had to for this yea i get it. I gotta hear that one again. Many thanks for this one and yep, you nailed it.

[@earldrum]

@@Ds_Drums thanks for the feedback D! Yea, the flat ride is kinda new … it’s a modified cymbal that didn’t sound great. I got this done in August! I’m digging the modified 20” A Zildjian Flat Top Ride!

[@charliecontrino1626]

That was awesome! I always thought Gadd recorded this! Thanks for the info. The flat ride is perfect for this!

[@earldrum]

Thanks for watching Charlie! Airto was the drummer on this album and he is an amazing drummer! Yes, I agree the flat ride is the right sound for this one, and it sounds good! I’m amazed that it keeps getting every day as it ages and settles in from the modification. Airto used Chick’s Paiste 602 18” flat ride that he got from Roy Haynes on this album!

[@charliecontrino1626]

@@earldrumYes I remember reading about that ride. Thanks for the info!

[@eddiebirkett9602]

love the flat ride , and the playing ...nice one Earl

[@earldrum]

@@eddiebirkett9602 thanks for the feedback Eddie! Thanks! 🙏🏻😊👍🏻🥁

[@jametz66]

Phenomenal!! Just, wow!!! 🥁😎👍That COB snare is spectacular!

[@earldrum]

@@jametz66 thanks for watching and the encouragement Jeff! I like the way that snare drum reacted to my snare comping. It was just enough stick and snare buzz! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 I think the flat ride is the prize on this one. Man that cymbal had just enough presence and stick definition! I’m digging it for this material without a rivet … I almost put some rivets in this cymbal!

[@jametz66]

@@earldrum NO RIVETS!! Lord, no! That thing is PERFECT as is!! Leave rivets to regular, thinner ride cymbals! 😄

[@earldrum]

@@jametz66 😳😳😳 okay just testing the waters! 😂😂😂😂 thanks for the feedback Jeff! 🍰🍰🍰🍰

[@jametz66]

@@earldrum 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@gregwonhoff7161]

First thing I loved is the overhead shot of your set. Next, the stuff you do with your left hand is something I wish I had taken the time to learn to do. There is just so much going on in this song, and I just can’t imagine how you remember to hit something when it’s time to hit it. This isn’t the type of music I would ever listen to unless a friend like you was playing to it. Great ending too.❤️🙏🏻👏🏼❤️🙏🏻👏🏼❤️

[@earldrum]

@@gregwonhoff7161 thanks for watching Greg. This music is more about pulsing with the music and not trying to fit grooves and licks in, but flowing with the other players. I was not playing what Airto played exactly, but I tried to make my cymbal ride stay with the bass player. That pulsing was combined with single and doubles like broken paradiddles between the ride and snare. Not backbeats. It’s a whole different approach to drumming. I love the camera angle too! I discovered it on a different video I played this weekend. More to come! Thanks for watching my friend!

[@gregwonhoff7161]

@@earldrum Me watching you is a constant, my young friend.❤️🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻❤️

[@earldrum]

🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻😊

[@charliecontrino1626]

Is that COB new or vintage? I have a 67 Gretsch kit and I love mine! Very punchy drum!

[@earldrum]

Thanks for the feedback Charlie … yes it’s a vintage 5x14 Gretsch round badge COB (1960s ?) with the old style Lightning Throw off that is off to the side and not centered. It’s a terrible throw off! But the drum worked on this song!

[@charliecontrino1626]

@@earldrum Yes the worst throw ever! LOL!

[@earldrum]

😊🙏🏻

[@jimflys2]

Bringin it! Great job. Well done, buddy!

[@earldrum]

@@jimflys2 thanks for the feedback Jim. Your feedback means a lot … I know this music flows out of you! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻😊👍🏻

[@jimflys2]

@@earldrum THIS ALBUM! #1 INFLUENCE ON MY IMPROVE/ LATIN JAZZ DRUMMING. I think Steve Gadd was also mostly influenced by Airto with his approach to Samba/Latin Jazz drumming.

[@earldrum]

@@jimflys2 I couldn’t agree more about Steve’s influence. That whole NY samba feel is on this album. The other drummer that plays this way is Alex Acuna. He just flows with the music. I think Airto was doing Tony Williams with a Latin bottom … the breaking up the hands thing … I’m just happy after 50 years I’m finally getting part of this stuff in my playing! 🙏🏻😊

[@vincegomez1212]

Thanks Earl!

[@earldrum]

@@vincegomez1212 thanks for watching Vince! 🙏🏻😊👍🏻🥁

[@aronowaughful]

Incredible!

[@earldrum]

@@aronowaughful thanks for the feedback Joel! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻😊👍🏻

[@jameslyons1661]

❤️🥁❤️

[@earldrum]

@@jameslyons1661 good morning Jimmy! 🙏🏻😊👍🏻🥁

[@Drumsholic]

Awesome work my friend but i have show you a different version of this drumless that sounded far better.I send it the link to you later if you're interested.

[@earldrum]

@@Drumsholic thanks for the feedback Stamatis! I’m sure there are 100s of drummers that play this song better than me. This was my first exposure to this song on this album! So I wanted to play this version! There are lots of more groove orient versions of this song! I mean every time Dave Weckl plays it with Chick Corea it is great, but so different than the feel on this album! Send me a link!

[@Drumsholic]

@@earldrum This version sounds more realistic than this you use thats the reason i suggest it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/maDPoJV4eZ52ndkfeature=shared

[@Drumsholic]

@@earldrum I didn't said something for your performance, theres a misunderstanding,i just wanna suggest you a better drumless track maybe!!

[@Drumsholic]

@@earldrum do you check the link i send you??I think it has more natural sound not electronic.

[@earldrum]

@@Drumsholic no I didn’t get it unless it’s in an email?

[@The-Tired-Drummer]

❤

[@earldrum]

@@The-Tired-Drummer 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻😊