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Herbie Hancock

Date of birth: 1940-04-12

Place of birth: Chicago, Illinois, USA

Known for: Sound

Also known as: Herbert Jeffrey Hancock, Herbert Hancock

Herbie Hancock

Biography

Herbert Jeffrey Hancock (born April 12, 1940) is an American pianist, bandleader and composer. As part of Miles Davis's "second great quintet", Hancock helped redefine the role of a jazz rhythm section, and was one of the primary architects of the "post-bop" sound. He was one of the first jazz musicians to embrace synthesizers and funk. Hancock's music is often melodic and accessible; he has had many songs "cross over" and achieved success among pop audiences. His music embraces elements of funk and soul while adopting freer stylistic elements from jazz. In his jazz improvisation, he possesses a unique creative blend of jazz, blues, and modern classical music, with harmonic stylings much like the styles of Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel. Hancock's best-known solo works include "Cantaloupe Island", "Watermelon Man" (later performed by dozens of musicians, including bandleader Mongo Santamaría), "Maiden Voyage", "Chameleon", and the singles "I Thought It Was You" and "Rockit". His 2007 tribute album River: The Joni Letters won the 2008 Grammy Award for Album of the Year, only the second jazz album ever to win the award after Getz/Gilberto in 1965. As a member of Soka Gakkai, Hancock is an adherent of the Nichiren school of Mahayana Buddhism.

Movie Credits

The Girls in the Band
3.1

The Girls in the Band

2011-10-13

THE GIRLS IN THE BAND tells the poignant, untold stories of female jazz and big band instrumentalist

Blue Note - A Story of Modern Jazz
3.6

Blue Note - A Story of Modern Jazz

1997-10-01

"It must schwing!" was the motto of Alfred Lion and Francis Wolff, two German Jewish immigrants who

Herbie Hancock: Possibilities
2.7

Herbie Hancock: Possibilities

2006-04-18

Imagine the possibilities….. "Possibilities" is the musical event of the year. The album is a series

Herbie Hancock Trio: Hurricane!
0

Herbie Hancock Trio: Hurricane!

1984-01-01

Three masters explore their roots and capture the full spectrum of the art of Jazz...a display of ly

'Round Midnight
3.5

'Round Midnight

1986-09-23

Inside the Blue Note nightclub one night in 1959 Paris, an aged, ailing jazzman coaxes an eloquent w

Larry presents: Best of The 80s
0

Larry presents: Best of The 80s

2004-01-16

01 Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go - Wham 02 Girls Just Want To Have Fun - Cindy Lauper 03 Wishing Well

World of Rhythm: Live in Lugano
0

World of Rhythm: Live in Lugano

2002-11-19

Music legends Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter and Billy Cobham team up to form the World of Rhythm in thi

Joni Mitchell - The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize For Popular Song
4.5

Joni Mitchell - The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize For Popular Song

2023-03-31

After getting her start in coffee shops Joni Mitchell went on to set a new standard, marrying music

Dejohnette, Hancock, Holland and Metheny in Concert
0

Dejohnette, Hancock, Holland and Metheny in Concert

1990-04-25

Jack DeJohnette - Drums, Herbie Hancock - Keyboards, Dave Holland - Bass, Pat Metheney - Guitars. Fo

Hitters
1.4

Hitters

2002-12-01

A respected civic leader is caught between two rival underworld crime families on the verge of war.

Quincy Jones : 75th Birthday Celebration Live at Montreux
3.1

Quincy Jones : 75th Birthday Celebration Live at Montreux

2008-07-14

When an artist of the stature of Quincy Jones celebrates his 75th birthday you can be sure it's goin

One Night with Blue Note
3.5

One Night with Blue Note

2004-01-27

Concert performance by 30 jazz greats from the Blue Note label, at Town Hall, New York City, Februar

Marcus Miller - Master Of All Trades
2.1

Marcus Miller - Master Of All Trades

2006-11-12

A 2hr concert shot at the Knitting Factory in Hollywood in 2006. A truly unique musical event/biopic

Keep On Keepin’ On
3.5

Keep On Keepin’ On

2014-04-19

Eighty-nine year old trumpeting legend Clark Terry has mentored jazz wonders like Miles Davis and Qu

Herbie Hancock: Jazz Channel
2.3

Herbie Hancock: Jazz Channel

2001-04-06

Legendary jazz pianist, composer and innovator Herbie Hancock performs live on "Jazz Central." This

Herbie Hancock  Future2future Live
1.9

Herbie Hancock Future2future Live

2002-01-01

Herbie Hancock  At The Munich Summer Piano Festival
3

Herbie Hancock At The Munich Summer Piano Festival

1987-01-01

Lang Lang & Herbie Hancock - Live in Berlin
3.8

Lang Lang & Herbie Hancock - Live in Berlin

2012-06-16

The Neville Brothers: Tell It Like It Is
4.3

The Neville Brothers: Tell It Like It Is

1991-10-31

The emblematic New Orleans soul band, play with a host of guests in a festive concert filmed in 1989

Tribute to Miles - Jazz à Vienne
3

Tribute to Miles - Jazz à Vienne

2011-07-12

Miles Davis - At La Villette
2.1

Miles Davis - At La Villette

1991-07-10

I Love Quincy
0

I Love Quincy

1984-03-23

Documentary profile of musician and producer Quincy Jones

Jacob Collier: In the Room Where It Happens
2.5

Jacob Collier: In the Room Where It Happens

2022-05-02

Twenty-something virtuoso multi-instrumentalist, singer and arranger Jacob Collier has managed to ou

DeJohnette, Metheny, Holland, Hancock - Parallel Realities Live
4

DeJohnette, Metheny, Holland, Hancock - Parallel Realities Live

2010-01-01

All-Star Jazz Show: Live from The Ed Sullivan Theater
0

All-Star Jazz Show: Live from The Ed Sullivan Theater

2011-09-28

Originally broadcast on CBS April 11, 1976, under the title THE ORIGINAL ROMPIN' STOMPIN' HOT AND HE

Celebrity Guide to Wine
5

Celebrity Guide to Wine

1990-01-01

Spago restaurant maître d’ Bernard Erpicum hosts this program featuring Hollywood stars as they shar

Herbie Hancock - Live at SummerStage 2022
0

Herbie Hancock - Live at SummerStage 2022

2022-06-15

Hargrove
3.5

Hargrove

2022-06-12

Jazz trumpet legend Roy Hargrove, deemed by his peers as a musical prophet, up close and personal li

The Jazz Channel Presents Herbie Hancock
0

The Jazz Channel Presents Herbie Hancock

2002-01-02

Legendary jazz pianist, composer and innovator Herbie Hancock performs live on "Jazz Central." This

Miles Electric: A Different Kind of Blue
3

Miles Electric: A Different Kind of Blue

2004-11-23

Documentary about Miles Davis' legendary gig at the Isle of Wight Festival, August 1970. Includes fu

Bobby McFerrin: Spontaneous Inventions
0

Bobby McFerrin: Spontaneous Inventions

1987-11-17

Filmed live at the Aquarius Theatre in Hollywood in February 1986, Spontaneous Inventions was Bobby

The Making of Sun City
4.5

The Making of Sun City

1985-01-23

Documentary Chronicling the making of Artists United Against Apartheid “Sun City”

Ron Carter: Finding the Right Notes
3.5

Ron Carter: Finding the Right Notes

2022-10-21

The life and career of jazz musician Ron Carter, the most recorded bassist in history, featuring ori

A MusiCares Tribute To Barbra Streisand
2.8

A MusiCares Tribute To Barbra Streisand

2012-11-12

On February 11, 2011, Barbra Streisand was honored as the 2011 MusiCares Person of the Year. At a ga

Experience Montreux
0

Experience Montreux

2013-06-18

Filmed in high definition 3D, this set brings together the Experience Montreux film plus concert per

Prachtig 80: Volume 2
0

Prachtig 80: Volume 2

2003-12-01

20 Videoclips from the 80's.

Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool
3.6

Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool

2019-08-23

An immersive look at the eventful life and brilliant artistic career of visionary American jazz trum

Herbie Hancock Special
0

Herbie Hancock Special

2004-07-23

Three giants of jazz - Herbie Hancock, Bobby McFerrin and Michael Brecker - join forces in a memorab

Herbie Hancock - The River Of Possibilities Tour - Jazz a Vienne
0

Herbie Hancock - The River Of Possibilities Tour - Jazz a Vienne

2008-06-15

Live at Jazz à Vienne, Antique Theatre, 2008. Tracklist: - Introduction - Actual proof (Herbie Ha

Live at Munich Summer Piano Festiva
0

Live at Munich Summer Piano Festiva

1988-01-01

'Münchner Klaviersommer' was an annual concerts series that took place from 1981 to 1998 in Munich,

Don Lewis and The Live Electronic Orchestra
0

Don Lewis and The Live Electronic Orchestra

2024-05-27

In the 1970s, Don Lewis, an electronics engineer and musician, constructed a synthesizer that genera

Miles Ahead
3.2

Miles Ahead

2016-01-22

An exploration of the life and music of Miles Davis.

Jazz at the White House
0

Jazz at the White House

2016-04-30

This All-Star Global Concert at the White House features performances by Joey Alexander, Terence Bla

They All Came Out to Montreux
4.3

They All Came Out to Montreux

2023-06-16

Utilizing a wealth of archival footage featuring Prince, Aretha Franklin, Miles Davis and more, They

Herbie Hancock And The Rockit Band Live in London
0

Herbie Hancock And The Rockit Band Live in London

Recorded live on January 31, 1984.

Herbie Hancock Trio - Full Concert - 08/14/88 - Newport Jazz Festival
0

Herbie Hancock Trio - Full Concert - 08/14/88 - Newport Jazz Festival

2014-10-31

"Herbie Hancock Trio - Full Concert "Recorded Live: 8/14/1988 - Newport Jazz Festival (Newport, RI)

Jazz Under the Skies
0

Jazz Under the Skies

1990-03-13

Feat. Herbie Hancock, Milton Nascimento, Al Jarreau Miki Howard & The Select Live Special Band,

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets
3.3

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets

2017-07-19

In the 28th century, Valerian and Laureline are special operatives charged with keeping order throug

Indecent Proposal
3.2

Indecent Proposal

1993-04-07

John Gage offers a down-on-his-luck yuppie husband $1 million for the opportunity to spend the night

Antonio Carlos Jobim: An All-Star Tribute
0

Antonio Carlos Jobim: An All-Star Tribute

1995-01-01

Direct from Brazil in his last recorded performance, this DVD, Antonio Carlos Jobim: An All-Star Tri

Miles Davis: Around Midnight
0

Miles Davis: Around Midnight

2011-09-20

This famous bootleg DVD was finally released as part of LIVE in Europe 1967: The Bootleg Series Vol.

Joni Mitchell: Woman of Heart and Mind
3

Joni Mitchell: Woman of Heart and Mind

2003-04-03

Joni Mitchell's career as a singer-songwriter and painter is extensively profiled in this in-depth d

Kareem: Minority of One
3.6

Kareem: Minority of One

2015-11-03

This documentary charts the complexity and genius of the NBA's all-time leading scorer Kareem Abdul-

Dennis Hopper: The Decisive Moments
3.8

Dennis Hopper: The Decisive Moments

2004-05-01

The inevitable fat cigar between his fingers, the American actor, director and fine artist Dennis Ho

Jack DeJohnette, Pat Metheny, Herbie Hancock, Dave Holland: Parallel Realities Live... (Live at Mellon Jazz Festival)
0

Jack DeJohnette, Pat Metheny, Herbie Hancock, Dave Holland: Parallel Realities Live... (Live at Mellon Jazz Festival)

1990-02-20

Blue Note Records: Beyond the Notes
3.5

Blue Note Records: Beyond the Notes

2019-06-14

Explore the vision behind the iconic American jazz record label. Since 1939, Blue Note artists have

Gustavo Dudamel and Herbie Hancock Celebrate Gershwin
0

Gustavo Dudamel and Herbie Hancock Celebrate Gershwin

2011-11-01

Oscar Peterson: Music in the Key of Oscar
0

Oscar Peterson: Music in the Key of Oscar

1995-01-01

This riveting music documentary traces the history of Jazz piano legend Oscar Peterson, from his ear

Miles Davis: Kind of Blue
1.9

Miles Davis: Kind of Blue

2008-10-27

Kind Of Blue: Celebrating A Masterpiece incorporates material from the 2004 mini-documentary, Made I

Charles Lloyd - Arrows Into Infinity
3

Charles Lloyd - Arrows Into Infinity

2014-08-05

A journey in sound through the unusual life and career of jazz legend Charles Lloyd. Lloyd's own voi

It Must Schwing: The Blue Note Story
4.1

It Must Schwing: The Blue Note Story

2018-07-02

A documentary about the legendary jazz label Blue Note Records and its German founders Alfred Lion a

Quincy Jones: Breaking New Sound
0

Quincy Jones: Breaking New Sound

2008-01-15

Documentary about the writing and recording of Quincy Jones' score for Norman Jewison's 1967 film I

Miles Ahead: The Music of Miles Davis
0

Miles Ahead: The Music of Miles Davis

1986-10-17

A documentary on the music of Miles Davis which contains concert footage from the 1986 New Orleans J

Music
0

Music

2010-10-15

The story of music and the music industry told through interviews with musicians, composers and prod

International Jazz Day Australia Concert 2019
4

International Jazz Day Australia Concert 2019

2019-04-30

The 2019 All-Star Global Concert brings together a stellar lineup of international artists in Melbou

Marcus
3

Marcus

2015-01-24

Patrick Savey plunges us into Marcus's world, capturing the New York roots of the legendary bass pla

Q85: A Musical Celebration for Quincy Jones
3.5

Q85: A Musical Celebration for Quincy Jones

2018-12-09

“Q85: A Musical Celebration for Quincy Jones,” is a star-studded evening that celebrates the life an

We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial
2.3

We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial

2009-01-18

A public celebration of the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States

That Click
4.5

That Click

2019-12-30

A man at the cutting edge of fashion, photojournalism and portraiture, photographer to the stars Dou

On the Shoulders of Giants
3.1

On the Shoulders of Giants

2011-02-11

The story of the Harlem Rens: the greatest basketball team you never heard of.

Branford Marsalis: Steep
0

Branford Marsalis: Steep

1991-01-04

Recorded live on 13th November, 1987, at the Spirit Square Arts Centre, North Carolina, USA.

Santana: Hymns for Peace - Live at Montreux
3.5

Santana: Hymns for Peace - Live at Montreux

2004-01-26

On July 15, 2004, Santana took to the stage in Montreux accompanied by a stunning line-up of guests

More Than Jazz
0

More Than Jazz

2016-07-03

A tribute to the 50th anniversary of the Montreux Jazz Festival, Switzerland, with Nina Simone, Mile

Buster Williams Bass to Infinity
0

Buster Williams Bass to Infinity

2019-11-12

Imagine hanging out with Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie, hearing them jam together, trading riff

River of Gold
0

River of Gold

2016-03-26

Narrated by Academy Award winners Sissy Spacek and Herbie Hancock, River of Gold is the disturbing a

Wayne Shorter: Live at Montreux 1996
5

Wayne Shorter: Live at Montreux 1996

1996-07-08

Wayne Shorter is one of the most significant jazz performers of modern times. He performed as part o

PBS Soundstage 1974: Chick Corea & Return to Forever + Herbie Hancock & The Headhunters
0

PBS Soundstage 1974: Chick Corea & Return to Forever + Herbie Hancock & The Headhunters

1974-01-01

Chicago, IL @ PBS Soundstage (1974)

Miles Davis Quintet: Milan 1964
0

Miles Davis Quintet: Milan 1964

1964-10-11

Miles Davis Quintet October 11, 1964 Teatro dell' Arte, Milan (Italy) 1. Autumn Leaves 2. My Funn

Herbie
0

Herbie

2025-01-23

A Man's Story
3.5

A Man's Story

2011-10-08

Documentary about British fashion designer Ozwald Boateng.

Herbie Hancock And The Rockit Band
0

Herbie Hancock And The Rockit Band

The Grammy Award winning Herbie Hancock and the Rockit Band take you to the center of the break danc

Before Midnight
2

Before Midnight

1986-01-01

Filmmaker Jean Achache shot extensively on the set of ’Round Midnight. This documentary presents tha