HERBIE HANCOCK'S performance at the Playboy Jazz Festival this Sunday comes in the midst of a bountiful year. Yes, the veteran jazz pianist/composer's Hollywood Hills home glistens with the an impressive collection of Grammys, an Oscar and other awards.
But Hancock has never received a statuette with as much cachet as the Album of the Year Grammy he got on Feb. 10 for his recording, River: The Joni Letters. On Sunday, his Playboy Jazz set will feature numbers from Hancock's acclaimed album, as well as a rare live rendering of his 1983 hit, “Rockit," and guest appearances by singers Sonya Kitchell and Amy Keys, bassist Marcus Miller and DJ C-Minus. We sat down with Hancock last week, fresh off his Brazilian tour.
You were at the Hollywood Bowl's Playboy Jazz Festival when it began in 1979.
Hancock: I was. I played both days. One with Chick Corea, and the other, if you can believe it, with Joni Mitchell and Michael Brecker. Funny thing is I don't remember what we played, but it must have been tunes from her “Mingus" record, which I also did with her.
So this is a 30th anniversary for you and Joni at Playboy as well.
Right. Playing Joni Mitchell's music again. But in very different circumstances.
