“Freddie Hubbard was, I believe, the greatest jazz trumpet stylists of my generation. His influence is still being felt in the sound of many young trumpeters today.”

“Personally, I was so fortunate in that Freddie played on my very first album as a leader “Takin’ Off”. He was exactly the person I wanted and his contribution was groundbreaking. On a tune called “One Finger Snap” on a subsequent album of mine, his beginning improvised solo line worked so seamlessly that it became a kind of generic “melody” that most musicians still believe was the composed melody, when in fact it was not. He and I crossed paths musically in several albums. In the group VSOP he was a founding member who’s artistry helped propel that project, which began as a one time tour, to a decade of memorable musical inspirational moments for me. His legacy is secure in that he played a seminal role of the shaping of the evolution of America’s foremost contribution to the musical arts, jazz.” – Herbie Hancock

Click here to listen to NPR’s feature, ‘Head Hunters Found A New Direction In Jazz’, originally aired on December 28th, 2008.

Herbie Hancock’s 1973 classic Head Hunters, the first platinum-selling jazz record, is now considered one of the defining moments in jazz fusion. The groundbreaking album — a true fusion of influences, capturing elements of jazz, R&B, funk and African music — became a hit among jazz and non-jazz listeners alike, thanks to its danceable grooves, complex compositions and lengthy improvisations.

The Library of Congress recently opted to preserve the album in its musical collection as one of the country’s most culturally significant audio recordings.

Hancock, along with producer David Rubinson and Steve Pond (author of Head Hunters: The Making of Jazz’s First Platinum Album) recently reflected on Head Hunters’ creation, as well as its long-lasting impact.

“At a certain point, I became a kind of musician that has tunnel vision about jazz,” Hancock says. “I only listened to jazz and classical music. But then, when I noticed that Miles Davis was listening to everything — I mean, he had albums of Jimi Hendrix, he had Beatles records, he had Rolling Stones, James Brown — I started to re-examine this kind of closed attitude that I had.”

Hancock says he found great inspiration and freedom in the music of James Brown and Sly Stone, and sought to incorporate some of funk’s distinct sounds and rhythms into his group. Hancock also further experimented with electronic keyboards such as the Fender Rhodes, clavinet and the ARP Odyssey synthesizer, which provided the famous bass line of the song “Chameleon.”

“I didn’t realize at the time,” Hancock says, “but looking back, I see that it was carving out a new direction.”

Herbie Hancock and his management team send their warmest congratulations to Terence Blanchard and Marcus Miller on their respective Grammy nominations.

Terence, who is currently on the road with Herbie in Europe, is nominated in the category of Best Jazz Instrumental Solo for the song “Be-Bop” from the album “Live At The 2007 Monterey Jazz Festival (Monterey Jazz Festival 50th Anniversary All-Stars).”

Marcus, who will head up the lineup for the inaugural Playboy Jazz Cruise with Herbie in January, is nominated in the category of Best Pop Instrumental Performance for the song “Blast!” from the album “Marcus.”

Features Previously Unreleased Live Tracks. Highlights Include Live Version Of “River” With Joni Mitchell On Vocals

“Herbie was ahead of the game,” says drummer Billy Hart (who was in Hancock’s band from 1970-73), in the liner notes to ‘Then and Now: The Definitive Herbie Hancock,’ released Sept. 23 on Verve Records. Experimentation has always been the name of the game in Hancock’s storied career.

A few examples of Hancock’s staggering versatility and diversity are evident in the following highlights, previously unavailable on CD, featured on the 12-track collection: “River”.

The centerpiece of ‘Then and Now: The Definitive Herbie Hancock’ is a previously unreleased live version of “River,” featuring Joni Mitchell on vocals.

Herbie frequently collaborated with the iconic singer songwriter throughout the years, and made her the subject of ‘River: The Joni Letters’ (Verve Records), the 2008 Grammy Album of the Year. The original version of “River,” featuring Corinne Bailey Rae on vocals, also appears on this essential collection. The only live performance Herbie and Joni did together for the Grammy Award-winning album was this live version in March 2008 for the Nissan Live Sets on Yahoo! Music, previously unreleased on CD.

In 1983 Herbie unexpectedly turned his attention to electro, a form still in its infancy, and the result was “Rockit,” an instant genre classic, a smash hit and groundbreaking video. “Rockit” was one of the first mainstream singles to feature scratching.

After 20 years at the forefront of jazz, Herbie received his first Grammy Award—for Best R&B Instrumental in 1983. “Rockit” remains not just a studio concoction but a vibrant performance vehicle, as evidenced by the strong live version featured on this collection from 2002’s Future 2 Future DVD, previously unreleased on CD.

Head Hunters, released in 1973, was the biggest selling jazz release of its time. Its centerpiece is “Chameleon,” a Top 20 chart hit with a hypnotizing electronic bass, Herbie playing guitar lines on the clavinet and super funky drum patterns courtesy of Harvey Mason.

The “Chameleon” edit featured on ‘Then and Now: The Definitive Herbie Hancock’ has until now only been available on iTunes.

‘Then and Now: The Definitive Herbie Hancock’ is available now on Verve Records.

After 3 months on tour singing with Herbie Hancock, Sonya Kitchell releases her own record “This Storm” on September 2.

Sonya also sang “All I Want” on “River: The Joni Letters” Herbie’s Grammy Award winning record. The track is available exclusively on the Amazon.com version of the record.

Sonya’s new solo record features her inimitable voice as it weaves through jazz, pop and rock. The record was produced by legendary producer Malcolm Burn and it will be available in all Starbucks retail locations starting September 2.

Sonya will embark on a 31-date national headlining tour to support the record. She will be backed by the popular band The Slip. “This Storm” is the follow-up to Kitchell’s critically-acclaimed debut “Words Came Back to Me”.

Herbie Hancock and his current touring guitarist Lionel Loueke were honored with ‘Musician of the Year’ and “Up and Coming Musician of the Year’ awards, respectively, at this year’s Jazz Journalists Awards.

The winners were selected by the Jazz Journalists Association and awarded at the group’s 12th annual gathering in New York. Congrats to Herbie, Lionel and everyone else who took home top honors from the event.

Click here to watch a video of Herbie Hancock performing selections from his GRAMMY Award winning Album of the Year ‘River: The Joni Letters’ on the new season of Sundance Channel’s acclaimed series ‘Live From Abbey Road’

Herbie has been named one of the world’s most influential people of the year.

Here’s the full statement written by Herbie’s long-time friends Wayne Shorter and Joni Mitchell:

“Herbie Hancock was performing classical music at 11. That his work has fanned out and reached out to the point where, at 68, he won this year’s Best Album Grammy is proof that it’s possible to speak to everyone if you’re open. If one word could ever describe Herbie, it’s open.

Musically, he still has a childlike nature, pursuing things in the spirit of play that we’re all in this for. (For a while there, he was really into dotted 16th notes and minor ninths.) He’s open as to whom he plays with; he doesn’t feel intimidated by big names or worry that someone in the band can’t quite cut it. And he’s constant. He hasn’t burned any bridges.

Herbie’s openness makes him fearless. He plays the piano as if it’s an orchestra, never saying “I can’t do this” or “I won’t do that.” For him, the piano is a palette. And he doesn’t really have a need to be understood. So when jazz pianists objected to his moving toward pop, he deflected them easily because he’s just so warm. Whenever we get together with Herbie, it’s always off the cuff. And something always develops: Herbie is an enthusiast, loves a great conversation and has a lot of endurance. The guy can hang.” – Wayne Shorter and Joni Mitchell

Click here for the original source article via Time Magazine

Click here to watch a video of Herbie and Joni performing live together.

Herbie Hancock, winner of the 2008 Album of the Year Grammy for ‘River: The Joni Letters’ (Verve), took the stage with longtime friend, collaborator and inspiration Joni Mitchell when he taped a show for Nissan Live Sets that will debut on Yahoo! Music April 1. It is the first time a worldwide audience will be able to see the two play together.

Mitchell sang on three of her songs — “River,” “Tea Leaf Prophecy” and “Hana.” Hancock, backed by guitarist Lionel Loueke, bassist Marcus Miller, drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, saxophonist Bob Sheppard, vocalist Sonya Kitchell and DJ C-Minus, also played classics including “Chameleon,” “Watermelon Man,” “Maiden Voyage” and “Rockit.” The performance, including video streams of 10 individual songs and an audience Q&A, will be available beginning April 1.

Hancock will begin an international tour in May that will include Brazil, Europe and many dates in the U.S. and Canada, including the Playboy Jazz Festival in Los Angeles.

Tune in to CBS Sunday Morning this Sunday, March 2nd as correspondent Rita Braver goes inside Herbie Hancock’s home for an intimate conversation with the Jazz legend.

Also this weekend, The Harvard Foundation of Harvard University will name Hancock 2008 Artist of the Year at their annual Cultural Rhythms ceremony on Saturday, March 1st.