The film documentary tracing the creation of Herbie’s 2005 album, “Possibilities,” opens today at theatres in New York and Los Angeles.

In New York, the movie plays at the Quad Cinemas in Greenwich Village, and in Los Angeles, at the Regent Showcase.

The LA Weekly says the film “celebrates an impulse that’s too rare in modern music: the love behind the labor of creation.”

Filmmakers Doug Biro and John Fine spent months following Herbie from the inception of his “Possibilities” album concept through recording studios around the world where he collaborated with artists from Sting to John Mayer, Annie Lennox to Joss Stone.

The resulting movie looks at Herbie’s creative process and the passion that drives his musical moves. For anyone not in Los Angeles or New York, the movie becomes available on DVD on Tuesday, April 18th.

Legacy recordings, a Sony Music imprint, will release “The Essential Herbie Hancock,” a two-disc compilation spanning Herbie’s recording career on seven labels over a four-decade period.

From the official press release:

Quite simply, Herbie Hancock is the most widely-imitated, globally-honored and commercially successful creator of true jazz since Bill Evans, whose pellucid sound and approach to rendering a ballad were important influences. But Hancock’s sound is slightly more crystalline than Evans’, and at up-tempos, his solos seem borne by a bracing breeze. Hancock could have forged a highly impressive career had he been content to concentrate solely on acoustic improvisation. But, like his mentor Miles Davis, he had farther-ranging ideas and a universe of tonalities, harmonies and rhythms in his head.

The Essential Herbie Hancock, drawing on his work for seven different labels, is the finest and most panoramic mini-retrospective ever assembled on this consummate artist. All of those sonorities, chord voicings, and rhythmic directions are in evidence over the course of the 21 tracks in this two-disc package.

Spanning the early-1960s to the late-1990s, Hancock is captured as sideman (with no less than Davis and the brilliant tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins) and leader, on grand piano or a battery of keyboards. Virtually every crucial item in his glittering discography as a bandleader — from the original “Watermelon Man” and “Maiden Voyage” to “Chameleon” and “Rockit” — is here, with a supporting cast that numbers Dexter Gordon, Freddie Hubbard, Wayne Shorter, Joe Henderson, Stevie Wonder, Joni Mitchell and, of course, the eternally astounding bass-drums team of Ron Carter and Tony Williams.

The Essential Herbie Hancock also features features one previously unreleased selection: a live version of Charles Mingus’ “Goodbye Porkpie Hat” featuring a vocal by Joni Mitchell.

Click here to watch a video of the Grammy Performance

Herbie Hancock will join Christina Aguilera on Feb. 8th to perform their Grammy-nominated track “A Song For You” during the 48th annual Grammy Awards ceremony.

The Recording Academy announced today a record number of unique GRAMMY pairings, as well as first presenters for Music’s Biggest Night, the 48th Annual GRAMMY Awards.

Keeping with the tradition of exciting GRAMMY moments, multi-GRAMMY winner and R&B diva Mary J. Blige will join multi-GRAMMY nominee U2 on the same GRAMMY stage for the first time; GRAMMY nominees and country superstars Keith Urban and Faith Hill are set to appear; current GRAMMY nominee and Oscar winner Jamie Foxx unites with Kanye West, who has eight GRAMMY nominations this year; and GRAMMY nominees Christina Aguilera and Herbie Hancock hit the stage for an intimate performance.

Additionally, superstar country duo Big & Rich, two-time Oscar winner Tom Hanks, and critically acclaimed actor Terrence Howard will appear as presenters. More GRAMMY Moments, superstar performances and presenters will be announced shortly.

These outstanding artists join previously announced performers Mariah Carey, John Legend, and Kanye West — who all have eight nominations this year.

The 48th Annual GRAMMY Awards will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 8, at Staples Center in Los Angeles and will be broadcast in HDTV and 5.1 surround sound on the CBS Television Network at 8 p.m. (ET/PT). The show will be supported on radio via Westwood One worldwide, and covered online.

Herbie has been nominated for awards in three categories for the 48th annual Grammy Awards, which will be held Feb. 8th at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Two songs from Herbie’s latest release, “Possibilities,” were honored: “A Song For You,” featuring Christina Aguilera on vocals in the Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals category, and “Gelo No Montanha,” featuring Trey Anastasio on guitar in the Best Pop Instrumental Performance category. Additionally, Herbie garnered a nomination for Best Jazz Instrumental Solo for his work on “The Source” from Terence Blanchard’s most recent Blue Note release, “Flow.” Congratulations Herbie!

Washington, DC – The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz–featuring jazz greats Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, and Nnenna Freelon–will tour Vietnam November 22-30.

The tour will commemorate the 10th anniversary of normalization of U.S.-Vietnam diplomatic relations. World renowned jazz pianist and composer Herbie Hancock will lead a group of jazz artists, which include legendary saxophonist and composer Wayne Shorter, internationally acclaimed vocalist Nnenna Freelon, and the eight gifted young jazz musicians who attend the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance at the University of Southern California.

The group’s appearances in Ho Chi Minh City will include a “Jazz Thanksgiving” concert at the U.S. Consulate General’s Residence for leaders in the diplomatic, business, and cultural communities; a master class for students at the Ho Chi Minh City Conservatory of Music; and a performance at the Ben Thanh Theatre.

In Hanoi, the group will lead a master class for jazz students at the Hanoi Conservatory of Music; perform for diplomats and cultural figures at the U.S. Embassy; lead a jam session at Minh’s Jazz Club; and perform at the Youth Theatre.

“We are once again delighted to work with the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz to present such an exciting outreach program to the Vietnamese people on this important occasion. I am particularly pleased that we have the next generation of jazz talent from the Institute at the University of Southern California touring with today’s jazz masters, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, and Nnenna Freelon,” said Karen P. Hughes, the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs in the U. S. Department of State.

According to Institute Chairman Herbie Hancock, “The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz is devoted to introducing people around the world to the uniquely American art form of jazz. We look forward to sharing this music with the people of Vietnam in the spirit of peace and partnership.” Rob Cutietta, Dean of the Flora L. Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California remarked, “This is a great opportunity for our students to represent the University, the Institute and the U.S. jazz community on this educational and performance tour of Vietnam.”

The Vietnam tour builds on the Institute’s longstanding partnership with the U.S. Department of State. In the early part of 1995, the Institute and the United States Information Agency sponsored a six week tour that took a group of Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition winners to seven African nations to perform and conduct educational programs. The Institute worked with the United States Information Agency again in March 1996 to present a tour of India and Thailand, and for a third time in 1998, conducting a tour of Chile, Argentina, and Peru. A highlight of the 1998 trip was a performance at the Summit of the Americas for 34 heads of state from North America, South America, and Central America.

This partnership continued in 2001 when the U.S. Department of State sponsored a tour of Egypt. In 2002, 2003, and 2004, the United Nations sponsored a tour of Paris, where the Institute’s college students performed with Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Dianne Reeves, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and T.S. Monk at an “International Day of Philosophy” event presented by UNESCO.

The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz (www.monkinstitute.org) was established in 1986 with a mission to preserve America’s legacy of jazz through performance and education. The Institute offers the world’s most promising young musicians college level training by America’s jazz masters and presents public school-based jazz education programs for young people around the world.

Additionally, the Institute provides scholarships, performance opportunities, and worldwide recognition to gifted young musicians through its many jazz education programs. Begun in 1995, the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance at the University of Southern California is an intensive two-year graduate level college program that enables a select group of the world’s most gifted young musicians to study tuition-free with major jazz musicians and educators.

Acclaimed trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard serves as the program’s Artistic Director. Jazz legends who have served as Artists-in-Residence include Herbie Hancock, Clark Terry, Wayne Shorter, Dianne Reeves, Jackie McLean, Dave Holland, Steve Turre, John Scofield, Terri Lyne Carrington, Ron Carter, and Jimmy Heath.

This performance-based program is expected to become the model college jazz education program for the world.

Herbie will join a wide array of sports and entertainment luminaries in celebrating the grand opening of the new $75 million Muhammad Ali Center on November 19th.

Louisville, KY is the place where a young Cassius Clay turned his ambitions into the years of training and grit that resulted in him becoming not only a World Heavyweight Champion boxer and Olympic Gold Medalist, but an American icon who struggled with many in his generation against the racial divides of the 50’s and 60’s.

On November 19th, Herbie Hancock will join Muhammad & Lonnie Ali, Laila Ali, Kathleen Battle, Jim Carrey, Former President Bill Clinton, Bob Costas, Sir David Frost, Bryant Gumbel, Richie Havens, Hootie & The Blowfish, Angelina Jolie, Wynonna Judd, Angelique Kidjo, B.B. King, Kris Kristofferson, Matt Lauer, Lennox Lewis and many others honoring the life of Muhammad Ali and the opening of the museum that captures his legacy, the Muhammad Ali Center.

Herbie joins a stellar group of world-class musicians in a special concert performance honoring the musical genius of Stevie Wonder on December 10th.

The 2005 Grammy Jams concert, a benefit supporting music education programs in the schools, will bring together a lineup including Stevie Wonder, India.Arie, George Benson, George Duke, Josh Groban, Heather Headley, Tamia Hill, Aaron Neville, Ray Parker, Jr., Raphael Saadiq, Slash, Angie Stone and many more in a special night of Stevie Wonder’s music.

Herbie Hancock and Stevie Wonder worked together on Stevie’s landmark Songs In The Key Of Life album in 1976, and have crossed paths most recently on Herbie’s album Gershwin’s World and his most recent release Possibilities. Tickets for the star-studded benefit show, to be held December 10th at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles, can be reserved through 5B Events.

Tune in Wednesday, December 7th for a very special live performance of Sister Moon on ABC’s Good Morning America.

Sting and Herbie Hancock will join forces to jolt the country awake on Wednesday, December 7th with a live performance of Sister Moon as arranged for Sting’s knockout performance on Herbie’s latest album, Possibilities.

In-demand jazz guitarist Lionel Loueke, who wrote the arrangement used on the album, will be joining Herbie and Sting for the performance. Loueke joined Herbie on the road for his lauded “Headhunters ’05” touring group that brought down the house at Bonnaroo 2005, where Herbie was named the event’s first-ever “artist in residence.”

Click here to watch a video of Herbie Hancock and Christina Aguilera performing “A Song For You” from Herbie’s latest album, “Possibilities” on the “Ellen” show on October 7th.

The performance was taped on Wednesday (10/5) at NBC studios in Burbank. Herbie and Christina were joined by a full band to re-create the arrangement from “Possibilities.” The performance will kick off a busy October for Herbie, with several other television performances in the works. Check back for updates.

(liveDaily.com) – It’s more than likely that “Possibilities” will be a major hit. It’s a natural successor to such Grammy-dominating, multi-platinum efforts as Carlos Santana’s “Supernatural” and Ray Charles’ “Genius Loves Company.”

The thing is, it’s better than either of those records. The only potential stumbling block–and it’s a big one–is that its author, Herbie Hancock, isn’t as familiar a name to the general public as either Santana or Charles.

Most people don’t think of the great jazz pianist as someone who has performed with the likes of Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, Wynton Marsalis, Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter and Michael Brecker. They think of him as the man who gave us the ’80s-hit “Rockit.” Well, think again.

“Possibilities” is stunning from start to finish, with nary a weak moment to be found. It kicks off with the radio-friendly “Stitched Up,” a solid piece of pop-rock that features a breathy Mayer on vocals, and slides naturally into the groovy Latin-flavored “Safiatou,” which showcases Santana on guitar and Angelique Kidjo at the mic.

Paul Simon lays down his best vocal work in years on a cuddly version of “I Do It for Your Love” and Sting does a great job revisiting “Sister Moon.” One of the album’s many surprises is how well the team of Joss Stone and Jonny Lang handles the B.B. King/U2-number “When Love Comes to Town.”

It’s no surprise, however, that Anastasio and Hancock–two masters of improvisation–prove to be a natural pairing on “Gelo No Montana.” In an album full of bright lights, the true highlight to be found on “Possibilities” is Christina Aguilera’s head-spinning take on “A Song for You.” It will make you reconsider everything you think you already know about this “Genie in a Bottle.” The same can be said for Hancock. For those who only know him from “Rockit,” this sensational CD should be a truly eye-opening experience.