My college paper was called “Jazz - A Journey To Recognition”. I studied British and American studies and managed to choose a topic that was related to music. While I was researching the paper, I learned about all the great American jazz players... and, finally, after all those skipped theory lessons, also the jazz chords :)))
Interesting you mention Chick Corea, I actually took private lessons from a piano teacher who had studied with him ;) Love Chick!