Herbie Hancock
“Herbie was the step after Bud Powell and Thelonious Monk, and I haven’t heard anybody yet who has come after him.” – Miles Davis
A true icon of modern music, 14-time Grammy winner Herbie Hancock’s illustrious career has spanned seven decades. Hancock gained a reputation as a gifted pianist and arranger in his early years, catching the eye of the legendary Blue Note Label who released his debut album, Takin’ Off, in 1962. As his solo career was taking off, he also joined Miles Davis’ second legendary Great Quintet. Hancock played on a series of albums with the Second Greater Quartet for a few years before he released more solo records, including 1965’s Maiden Voyage, which saw Hancock exploring jazz-rock, and 1973’s Head Hunters, which saw him using an ARP synthesizer to create era-defining jazz-funk sounds. He followed the success of Head Hunters by branching out into film scoring (Round Midnight), authoring (Herbie Hancock: Possibilities), and service to the community (Creative Chair for Jazz for the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, Institute Chairman of the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz, and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador). Hancock is currently in the studio working on a new album, remaining where has always been, at the forefront of world culture, technology, business, and music.
