Herbie Hancock Gives Joni Mitchell Props : Smooth Jazz Now :

Oscar Peterson - Celebration of a Life Well Lived

January 13, 2008 - "He's irreplaceable," that's how Herbie Hancock described the late Oscar Peterson over the weekend. "I owe him everything. He's irreplaceable," Hancock said just before his solo piano tribute to the Canadian Jazz legend who passed away December 23/2007. more

Herbie Hancock Gives Joni Mitchell Props

October 10, 2007 - One night in 1978 Herbie Hancock got an unexpected call from Jaco Pastorius. The bass superstar was working on a much talked about Jazz album with Joni Mitchell. Pastorius said " I'm in a rehearsal place, working on a record with Joni Mitchell about Charlie Mingus. The only thing's that's missing is you." Hancock made those sessions and has since become a close friend of the Canadian singer/songwriter, "she speaks her mind, and she doesn't remove herself from the world as it is - she's a force for change for the better," say Hancock. The personal and musical respect has now resulted in a tribute CD on Joni from Hancock. "River - The Joni Letters" features eight takes on classic Mitchell tunes including "Court and Spark" featuring Norah Jones sand "The Jungle Line" with Leonard Cohen. Hancock says he was careful to reinvent each Mitchell song so fans wouldn't hear carbon-copies of the famous tunes. Also features on the album are Tina Turner, Corinne Bailey Rae, Luciana Souza and even Joni makes an appearance on "Tea Leaf Prophecy" - by John Beaudin

Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter Join Artists For Peace

July 26, 2005 - ICAP (The International Committee of Artists for Peace) announced recently that Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter will be among musicians traveling to Japan along with Carlos Santana, for the Emissaries of Peace Concert Tour. The tour will commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the WWII atomic bombing of Japan. The ICAP's mission is to promote world peace through the arts. The Untied Nations has named the years 2000-2010, The International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, and this organization belongs to that coalition. Hancock's new album due August 2, entitled Herbie Hancock: Possibilities, will be available on Starbucks Hear Music Label, Hancock Music, and Vector Records. Hancock has enlisted a slew of stars to guest on the outing which will feature contributions by veterans Carlos Santana, Paul Simon, Sting, and also include some of music's latest stars Raul Midon (I love this man), Joss Stone, Damien Rice, Christina Aquilera, Johnny Lang and John Mayer. - by Cheryl Philips

May 31, 2005 - Paul Simon, Angelique Kidjo, Annie Lennox, and Sting will all make guest appearances on Herbie Handcock's next studio album "Possibilities" due out Aug 30th, 2005. - by Cheryl Philips

Herbie Hancock Set for Songwriting Award
April 28, 2005 - Congratulations to Herbie Hancock. The pianist will be honoured by the American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers (ASMAC). The Jazz legend will be the winner of the 66th Annual Golden Score Award. Set for June 4 in Santa Monica, Calif. the organization will also honour Leiber & Stoller with the President's Award. Proceeds from the show will go to education programs including "Don Costa, Gordon Jenkins, Nelson Riddle Memorial Scholarship for Musical Excellence in Arranging" and the "Irwin Kostal Memorial Scholarship" for composing. Ray Charles and Natalie Cole have also been recipients of the ASMAC award. - by Kari Graham

Grammy's Turns into Ray Charles Love Fest
February 14, 2004 - The late great Ray Charles cleaned up at the Grammy's this year with 8 wins. His duets album "Genius Loves Company" won many of the top prizes including Album of the Year and best Pop Album. "Here We Go Again" his duet with Norah Jones won Record of the Year and best Pop Collaboration. More

Herbie Hancock Grammy Win
- Jazz Instrumental Solo: Speak Like a Child, Herbie Hancock.

Smooth Jazz Nominees at the Grammys
December 8, 2004 - Looks like the sun won't set any time soon on Norah Jones. The singer was nominated for five Grammys yesterday including nods for Pop Vocal Album and Female Pop Vocal for her second CD "Feels Like Home." The late Ray Charles was another multiple nominee with seven (his album had 10 nominations) and the biggest artist heard on Smooth Jazz radio was Alicia Keys with eight nominations. Read more.

Herbie Hancock 1 Nomination
- Jazz Instrumental Solo: Speak Like a Child, Herbie Hancock.

New Historic Herbie Hancock DVD Due November 4th

September 5, 2003 - The Blue Note label are set to release an all star live DVD featuring Herbie Hancock and other Jazz legends. "One Night With Blue Note: A Historic All Star Reunion Concert" will be released November 4th and also feature drummer Art Blakey, vibist Bobby Hutcherson and guitarist Kenny Burrell. Recorded at New York City's Town Hall in 1985 portions of the show have been previously available on video but the new Blue Note DVD will have a lot of extra footage and surround sound. Other performers on the fourteen track DVD include: bassist Ron Carter, drummer Tony Williams, flutist James Newton, guitarist Stanley Jordan and pianists Cecil Taylor and McCoy Tyner.

Review - Herbie Hancock-Gershwin's World
George Gershwin once said "Jazz is the result of the energy stored up in America". Well hallelujah the floodgates are crashing down with this intimate and intelligent set that ignites the very soul of Gershwin best work. Never one to coast on past success Herbie Hancock virtually glides through well remembered tunes like "Summertime"(with help from Joni Mitchell like you've never heard her before) creating new found catchiness to a piece we've heard hundred's of times. That's not easy to do consider the plethora of Gershwin cover's released since his death in 1937. Read more.