The Chick Corea Songbook

The Chick Corea Songbook
The Chick Corea Songbook
Studio album by The Manhattan Transfer
Released	September 29, 2009
Genre	Vocal jazz
Label	Four Quarters Entertainment
Producer	The Manhattan Transfer, Yusuf Gandhi
The Manhattan Transfer chronology

Last updated October 23, 2025

The Chick Corea Songbook is the twenty-second studio album released by The Manhattan Transfer on September 29, 2009.^[1] The album features The Manhattan Transfer's interpretations of several Chick Corea compositions, including a song written by Corea for this album.^[1]^[2] The executive producer was Yusuf Gandhi. It was the final album with Tim Hauser, who died in between the release of this album and their subsequent album.^[3]

Reviews

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
All About Jazz	^[2]
Allmusic	^[4]
DownBeat	^[5]

All About Jazz editor Jerry D'Souza stated regarding this album, "Manhattan Transfer is back, and in top-notch form with a marvelous blend of melody and song." Regarding individual songs, he added, "Spain" is magical. The snap and crackle are done to a nicety, the arrangement opening the door to gently cascading harmonies and embracing solo singing," "The Story of Anna & Armando (Armando's Rhumba)" is flamboyant, the vocals swaying and resounding in harmony within the balmy atmosphere of the lyrics".^[2]

DownBeat reviewer Philip Booth awarded 3.5 stars to the album.^[5] He wrote, "it’s difficult to deny the appeal of these voices, cascading and leapfrogging on 'Another Roadside Attraction (Space Circus)' and illuminating a story-song about Corea’s parents on 'The Story Of Anna & Armando (Armando’s Rhumba)' ".^[5]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Free Samba"	Corea	5:15
2.	"Spain (I Can Recall) Prelude"	Joaquín Rodrigo, Al Jarreau, Artie Maren, Corea	3:11
3.	"Spain (I Can Recall)"	Rodrigo, Jarreau, Maren, Corea	6:37
4.	"One Step Closer (The One Step)"	Van Dyke Parks, Corea, Tim Hauser	5:16
5.	"Children's Song #15"	Corea	1:16
6.	"500 Miles High"	Corea, Neville Potter	6:52
7.	"Another Roadside Attraction (Space Circus)"	Parks, Corea, Hauser, Basie Hauser	4:21
8.	"Time's Lie"	Corea, Potter	3:55
9.	"La Chanson Du Bébé (Children's Song #1)"	Janis Siegel, Corea, Cheryl Bentyne	2:32
10.	"Ragtime in Pixiland (Pixiland Rag)"	Corea	1:46
11.	"The Story of Anna & Armando (Armando's Rhumba)"	Siegel, Corea	6:15
12.	"Free Samba (Extended Version)"	Corea	8:16

Personnel

The Manhattan Transfer

Cheryl Bentyne – vocals
Tim Hauser – vocals
Alan Paul – vocals, synthesizers
Janis Siegel – vocals, arrangements

Additional personnel

Chick Corea – keyboards, Yamaha Motif XS8, arrangements
Yaron Gershovsky – keyboards, Fender Rhodes, acoustic piano, programming, arrangements, backing vocals
Edsel Gomez – acoustic piano, arrangements
Bais Haus – synthesizers, drum programming
Fred Hersch – acoustic piano, arrangements
Scott Kinsey – keyboards, arrangements
Ramón Stagnaro – acoustic guitar
Christian McBride – acoustic bass
John Benitez – double bass, backing vocals
Jimmy Earl – bass guitar
John Herbert – acoustic bass
Gary Wicks – acoustic bass, bass guitar
Vince Cherico – drums
Billy Drummond – drums
Steve Hass – drums
Gary Novak – drums
Alex Acuña – percussion
Airto Moreira – percussion
Luis Quintero – percussion
Joe Passaro – marimba
Ronnie Cuber – baritone saxophone
Steve Tavaglione – sopranino saxophone
Lou Marini – flute, alto flute
Don Shelton – whistle
Conrad Herwig – trombone
Mike Panella – trumpet
Robert Rodriguez – trumpet
Corey Allen – arrangements
Michele Weir – arrangements

Production

The Manhattan Transfer – producers
Yusuf Gandhi – executive producer, album concept
Bill Airey Smith – engineer, mixing
Scott Noll – engineer, mixing
Mark Wilder – mastering
Brian Bacchus – album coordinator
Burton Yount – art direction, design

References

1 2 "Chick Corea Songbook". Amazon.
1 2 3 D'Souza, Jerry (October 15, 2009). "The Manhattan Transfer | The Chick Corea Songbook". allaboutjazz.com. Retrieved February 12, 2012.
↑ "The Chick Corea Songbook". The Manhattan Transfer . Retrieved March 25, 2023.
↑ Nastos, Michael G. "The Chick Corea Songbook - The Manhattan Transfer | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved February 12, 2012.
1 2 3 Booth, Philip (January 2010). "The Chick Corea Songbook". DownBeat . 77 (1): 78.

External links

The Manhattan Transfer Official Website Archived December 25, 2010, at the Wayback Machine

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[Amazon-1] 1 2 "Chick Corea Songbook". Amazon.

[AllAboutJazz-2] 1 2 3 D'Souza, Jerry (October 15, 2009). "The Manhattan Transfer | The Chick Corea Songbook". allaboutjazz.com. Retrieved February 12, 2012.

[3] "The Chick Corea Songbook". The Manhattan Transfer . Retrieved March 25, 2023.

[4] Nastos, Michael G. "The Chick Corea Songbook - The Manhattan Transfer | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved February 12, 2012.

[:0-5] 1 2 3 Booth, Philip (January 2010). "The Chick Corea Songbook". DownBeat . 77 (1): 78.

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v t e The Manhattan Transfer
Cheryl Bentyne Trist Curless Alan Paul Janis Siegel Tim Hauser Erin Dickins Laurel Massé Marty Nelson Gene Pistilli Pat Rosalia
Studio albums	Jukin' The Manhattan Transfer Coming Out Pastiche Extensions Mecca for Moderns Bodies and Souls Vocalese Brasil The Offbeat of Avenues The Christmas Album The Manhattan Transfer Meets Tubby the Tuba Tonin' Swing The Spirit of St. Louis Vibrate An Acapella Christmas The Symphony Sessions The Chick Corea Songbook The Junction
Live albums	The Manhattan Transfer Live Bop Doo-Wopp Live Man-Tora! Live in Tokyo Couldn't Be Hotter
Compilation albums	The Best of The Manhattan Transfer Anthology: Down in Birdland The Very Best of The Manhattan Transfer Boy from New York City and Other Hits The Definitive Pop Collection
Singles	"Tuxedo Junction" "Chanson D'Amour" "On a Little Street in Singapore" "Where Did Our Love Go"/"Je Voulais Te Dire (Que Je T'Attends)" "The Boy from New York City" "Route 66"