Recalling pianist extraordinaire Chick Corea’s classic Chicagoland collaboration with the Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra.

The amount of piano players who fall into the elite caliber of Chick Corea can probably be counted one hand, who when paired with the world-renowned Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra, could only mean a match made in the genre’s supreme utopia of survivors.

And it was a score of a lifetime for the already prominent Genesee Theatre in Waukegan, who lured the co-bill from downtown Chicago and had no problem matching the class or acoustic precision required for a legendary performance of this magnitude.

Given Corea’s unbelievably prolific solo career, leading Return To Forever and time with the immortal Miles Davis (on game-changers “Bitches Brew,” “On The Corner” and so many more), the 76-year-old could’ve probably camped out for a year and barely scratched the surface.

Nonetheless, he treated core fans of varying ages to a well-rounded, two-act evening that found several of his most beloved works from more than five decades of tradition, avant-garde experimentation and jazz fusion being rearranged for a 14-piece orchestra.

Starting with a brief greeting from the headliner, the house lights remained on as everyone settled into a lively, vigorous rendition of “Armando’s Rhumba,” which was followed by “Windows” for an additional passport into a world of dreamy imagination.

“Crystal Silence” came across just as sublime as its moniker implies, while “Matrix,” with its mass of unraveling sheet music, created quite a delightful challenge to keep up with Corea’s finger speed and the several virtuoso solos.

A much-deserved break was in order for the artists and audience, but upon their return, the cast wasted no time diving into the Wynton Marsalis-arranged “Litha,” and though that typical Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra band leader didn’t appear in person, his innovative fingerprints noticeably returned for “Children’s Song #10.”

The blues rarely sounded so joyous as they did throughout 1999’s “Wigwam” (originally with Origin), while a straight up and down delivery of “Tones For Joan’s Bones” wound all the way back to the beginning of Corea’s enviable career.

During the initial bows, a woman screamed several times for the track “Return To Forever,” and despite bypassing that specific wish, the group’s glorious “You’re Everything” was a more than worthy substitute.

As if that wasn’t enough, Corea didn’t immediately dart backstage, but rather shook hands and signed autographs in a true act of humility rarely seen in a musician of his magnificent stature.

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Click here for more photos of Chick Corea at the Genesee Theatre.

For additional information on Chick Corea, visit ChickCorea.com.