Written by Candid Records and Chick Corea Productions have announced the release of “Forever Yours: The Farewell Performance,” set to arrive digitally on October 17, 2025, across all streaming platforms. The album documents pianist and composer Chick Corea’s final solo concerts, recorded just months before his passing in February 2021.
Presented as a live album, “Forever Yours” captures the breadth and intimacy of Corea’s musical vision at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, Florida, during two solo-piano concerts in October 2020.
The album opens with Corea’s signature blend of personal engagement and virtuosic performance; listeners encounter both his solo piano works and the spontaneous spoken interludes for which he was renowned. The program spans several distinct musical traditions and includes revered original compositions as well as homages to significant composers in Corea’s artistic development. Notable among the covers is a spirited rendition of Stevie Wonder’s “Overjoyed,” released as the album’s first single, which underscores Corea’s playful approach and inquisitive artistry.
Corea’s own pieces such as “Armando’s Rhumba” and selections from “Children’s Songs” are integrated with works by Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell, Mozart, Bill Evans, Duke Ellington, and others. The performance draws connections between musical forms and eras, often featuring unexpected juxtapositions — an approach described by longtime collaborator Bernie Kirsh, who noted that Corea’s knack for identifying relationships between disparate composers was a defining element of his concerts.
Throughout “Forever Yours,” Corea engages in spoken reflections on the music and its context, discussing the influences of Monk and Bud Powell, introducing live “Portrait” pieces, and thoughtfully presenting his suite of “Children’s Songs.” During these segments, members of the audience were invited onstage, becoming the subject of musical improvisations that highlight both the spontaneity and generosity at the core of Corea’s performance practice.
The liner notes for “Forever Yours” include tributes from family, fellow musicians, and admirers such as Alicia Keys, Herbie Hancock, Hans Zimmer, Robert Glasper, Bobby McFerrin, Stanley Clarke, and Lang Lang. These testimonials further position the album as a record of both Corea’s artistry and his impact within the international music community.
Chick Corea’s career, spanning seven decades, placed him in collaboration with a wide range of influential figures, including Miles Davis, Stanley Clarke, Herbie Hancock, and Gary Burton. He was awarded 28 GRAMMY Awards from 75 nominations and was named Artist of the Year three times between 2014 and 2018 in the DownBeat Readers Poll. Corea’s work has encompassed straight-ahead jazz, fusion, classical composition, and symphonic forms. His legacy is defined not only by technical mastery but also by his reputation for warmth, generosity, and musical curiosity.
Candid Records, the label responsible for this release, has a history dating back to 1960, originally founded by Nat Hentoff. The label has returned to prominence in recent years, reissuing historic recordings and garnering several GRAMMY awards, while continuing to release new music that contributes to contemporary jazz discourse.
“Forever Yours: The Farewell Performance” stands as a final artistic statement by Corea, offering listeners a comprehensive, unfiltered document of his musical thinking and performance presence. The release can be considered both an intimate farewell and a testament to Corea’s ongoing influence.
“Forever Yours: The Farewell Performance” will be available via digital download and streaming on October 17. The physical CD and LP editions are scheduled for release in February 2026.
Last modified: October 11, 2025
