HERBIE HANCOCK TO EMBARK ON FIRST-EVER SOLO TOUR THIS FALL; DATES ALSO INCLUDE PERFORMANCES WITH FULL ORCHESTRA FEATURING GEORGE GERSHWIN’S ‘RHAPSODY IN BLUE’


Los Angeles, California.  Following in the footsteps of his recent double Grammy wins for “The Imagine Project” (Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals, Best Improvised Jazz Solo) and his appointment as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, Herbie Hancock will embark on a North American tour this Fall.  This tour marks the first time in the genre-defying artist’s career that he will be touring solo, incorporating elements of both his acoustic and electric musical heritage and culling material from throughout his legendary career.      

Kicking off this Fall’s ambitious schedule is the much-anticipated opening night gala of the Los Angeles Philharmonic pairing Hancock with conductor Gustavo Dudamel at Walt Disney Hall.  Hancock will then set out on his first ever solo tour, which will see the artist explore his catalog alone on stage, accompanied only by his arsenal of keyboards and his signature Fazioli Grand piano.  Hancock will re-arrange and reinterpret his contributions to the canon of modern jazz, funk and electronic music for an evening of unprecedented virtuosity.  A trio of cities, Calgary, Portland and Seattle, will see Hancock revisit George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” in collaboration with their local symphony orchestras.

Now in the fifth decade of his professional life, Herbie Hancock remains where he has always been:  in the forefront of world culture, technology, business and music.  In addition to being recognized as a legendary pianist and composer, Herbie Hancock has been an integral part of every popular music movement since the 1960’s.  During his tenure as a member of the Miles Davis Quintet that pioneered a groundbreaking, more expansive sound and direction in jazz, he also developed new approaches on his own recordings, followed by his work in the 70s – with record-breaking albums such as “Headhunters” – that combined electric jazz with funk and rock in an innovative style that continues to influence contemporary music to this day. “Rockit” and “Future Shock” marked Hancock’s foray into electronic dance music and included several chart-topping hits; during the same period he also continued to work in an acoustic setting with V.S.O.P., which included ex-Miles Davis bandmates Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter, and Tony Williams.

Hancock received an Academy Award for his Round Midnight film score and 14 Grammy Awards, including Album Of The Year for “River:  The Joni Letters,” as well as  two 2011 Grammy Awards for the recently released globally collaborative CD, “The Imagine Project.”  Many of his compositions, including “Cantaloupe Island,” “Maiden Voyage,” “Watermelon Man” and “Chameleon,” are modern standards that have had a profound effect on all styles of contemporary music.

Herbie Hancock also maintains a thriving career outside the performing stage and recording studio. Recently appointed a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, Hancock is also the Creative Chair for Jazz for the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, and serves as Institute Chairman of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, the foremost international organization devoted to the development of jazz performance and education worldwide. He is also a founder of The International Committee of Artists for Peace (ICAP). Hancock was recently given the “Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres” by French Prime Minister Francois Fillon – the internationally esteemed Arts Award.   

For additional information please contact Alisse Kingsley at Muse Media, 323-467-8508, e:  AlissetheMuse@aol.com.    For a complete listing of all concert dates please log on to www.HerbieHancock.com.

 

HERBIE HANCOCK 2011 TOUR DATES

9.17.11 Monterey, CA, Monterey Jazz Festival*
9.18.11 Santa Rosa, CA, Wells Fargo Center*
9.20.11 Chico, CA, Laxson Auditorium*
9.21.11 Berkeley, CA, Zellerbach Hall*
9.23.11 San Diego, CA Balboa Theater*
9.27.11 Los Angeles, CA, Disney Hall w/ LA Philharmonic
10.7.11 Akron, OH, E.J. Thomas Theatre#
10.8.11 Philadelphia, PA, Verizon Hall#
10.9.11 Newport News, VA, Ferguson Center for the Arts#
10.28.11 Minneapolis, MN, Orchestra Hall#
10.29.11 Naperville, IL, Wentz Concert Hall#
10.30.11 Lawrence, KS, Lied Center of Kansas#
10.31.11 Dallas, TX, Meyerson Symphony Center#
11.9.11 Calgary, ALB, Jack Singer Concert Hall w/ Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra
11.11.11 Portland, OR, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall w/ Oregon Symphony
11.18.11 Seattle, WA, Benaroya Hall w/ Seattle Symphony)

 

* w/ Lionel Loueke, James Genus, and Vinnie Colaiuta
# Solo Concert