VAIL VALLEY, Colorado — Variety continues to be the name of the game over the next week at the Vilar Performing Arts Center in Colorado's Vail Valley.

I mention the variety of programming in Beaver Creek a great deal in this column because when I look at any given week or month, I am amazed at the diversity of performing artists to choose from.

Over the next week, we hit everything from Broadway to family programming to comedy, rock and Celtic music. We start with a second performance of CATS, one of the most successful musicals in the history of the genre, tonight. We continue with 16-time Grammy winner Chick Corea on Saturday. On Sunday we present Le Grande Cirque, a spectacle for the entire family in the tradition of the greatest of European Cirque shows. The Capital Steps Comedy Troupe returns next Tuesday with their tongue-in-cheek take on the latest happening in our nation's capital. “One Night of Queen,” the ultimate tribute to one of the greatest rock bands in history, takes the stage on Wednesday night. And “Celtica Sinfonia” will get us all in the mood for St. Patrick's Day with the best in Celtic music and dance with a show that can be described as where “Riverdance” meets The Chieftains.

But today I want to focus on Chick Corea, one of the most significant jazzmen of the last 50 years, who we are honored to present at the Vilar Center tomorrow night.

Tracing the history, musicians and components of modern jazz can make you feel like you need a PhD and a massive family tree just to keep track of all the players. But the simple truth of the matter is that this country has produced a legacy of innovative artists who explore the idiom of jazz across a multitude of instruments, styles and collaborations.

Pianist Chick Corea has been involved in many ground-breaking musical projects, and has collaborated with some of the best artists in the business. Alongside Herbie Hancock and Keith Jarrett, Corea is one of the top jazz pianists of our generation.

If you haven't been following his career and wonder what he's been doing lately, one need look no further than his Grammy wins. In January, the 68 year-old musician won his 16th Grammy (he's been nominated 55 times), half of the awards coming in the last decade.

In 2007 he collaborated on an album with Bela Fleck. And he is currently working on an Album with The Manhattan Transfer.

He performs at all of the major jazz festivals and clubs throughout the world, and we are honored to have him perform a special solo piano concert for our community. It's been 10 years since he last played a standing-room-only performance at the Vilar Center, and Saturday's concert will be an intimate evening between Corea, his piano and the audience.

I hope to see you at the theatre sometime in the next seven days for a packed week of performances!