Multiple Grammy-nominated trombonist and composer Conrad Herwig celebrates the enduring genius of Chick Corea with The Latin Side of Chick Corea, the latest installment in his acclaimed Latin Side series, out now on Savant Records. The album marks the 30th anniversary of Herwig’s groundbreaking project and offers a vibrant, rhythmically adventurous tribute to one of jazz’s most influential composers.
Rather than treating Corea’s compositions as museum pieces, Herwig and co-arranger Bill O’Connell reimagine the music through the rich traditions of Afro-Cuban, Afro-Caribbean and Latin jazz. Familiar melodies are transformed through infectious rhythms, inventive harmonies and expansive improvisational passages, allowing the musicians to bring their own voices to Corea’s extraordinary repertoire.
The album features ten compositions spanning every stage of Corea’s remarkable career. The arrangements demonstrate just how naturally Corea’s music connects with Latin rhythms—a relationship that was part of his musical vocabulary from the beginning of his career. Corea’s early work with Mongo Santamaria and his lifelong fascination with Afro-Caribbean music provide a natural foundation for Herwig’s interpretations.
At the center of the project is the Latin Side All-Stars, an exceptional ensemble featuring Herwig on trombone, saxophonist and flutist Craig Handy, trumpeter Alex Norris and pianist and co-arranger Bill O’Connell. The rhythm section of bassist Ruben Rodriguez, drummer Robby Ameen and conga player Mauricio Herrera supplies the propulsive foundation, combining clave, swing and sophisticated rhythmic interplay.
The result is music that feels both familiar and freshly energized. Corea’s melodies remain recognizable, but Herwig’s arrangements create new pathways through them, giving the musicians room to stretch while maintaining the emotional essence of the originals.
The album has already received enthusiastic critical praise. The New York City Jazz Record noted that Herwig and O’Connell surround Corea’s melodies with “vibrant Afro-Caribbean rhythms” and “inventive harmonies,” while Marlbank praised the recording for conveying a palpable love for Corea, jazz and humanity.
UKVibe’s Mike Gates highlighted the album’s ability to avoid the reverence that can make tribute projects feel static, instead praising Herwig for doing what Corea himself encouraged throughout his career: taking great compositions somewhere unexpected. WBGO’s Gary Walker similarly points to Herwig’s deep connection to the Afro-Caribbean tradition, noting that the music receives a fresh “coat of clave.”
Herwig’s connection to this musical world runs deep. He has studied and worked with Afro-Caribbean masters including Mario Bauzá, Eddie Palmieri and Tito Puente, experiences that have helped shape the distinctive sound of his Latin Side projects. Over the years, the series has explored the music of jazz giants including John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Joe Henderson, Horace Silver and Charles Mingus.
Now, with Chick Corea, Herwig brings the project full circle in a celebration that feels less like looking backward than continuing Corea’s own spirit of musical exploration.
Chick Corea, who died in 2021, was one of the most innovative and influential pianists, composers and bandleaders in jazz history. His career encompassed acoustic jazz, fusion, Latin music, classical composition and experimental projects, while his work with groups including Return to Forever helped redefine the possibilities of jazz in the 1970s and beyond. Across decades of recording and performing, Corea remained committed to curiosity, collaboration and musical discovery—qualities that make this tribute particularly fitting.
With The Latin Side of Chick Corea, Herwig and the Latin Side All-Stars honor that legacy by keeping the music in motion. The album doesn’t simply revisit Corea’s compositions; it allows them to breathe, swing and evolve through the language of Afro-Caribbean jazz.
The Latin Side of Chick Corea is out now on Savant Records.
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