Herbie Hancock Gets Creative With The LA Phil

Herbie Hancock has been named as the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s creative chair for Jazz, reports the Associated Press.

The 69-year-old Grammy winner will start his two-year stint in the position in 2010, following the completion of bassist Christian McBride’s residence.

The piano legend is looking to bring in other musical collaborators and different styles as he oversees the program for the Walt Disney Concert Hall and Hollywood Bowl.

“I’m interested in cross-pollination of music of various cultures,” Hancock said Monday. “And I would like to see more interaction between visuals and music. Ballet or some sort of pop-oriented kind of dance interacting with jazz, visuals done with computer graphics or film segments with jazz, or a mixture of jazz and other genres.”

With an illustrious career spanning five decades, Hancock’s creative path has moved gracefully between almost every development in acoustic and electronic jazz and R&B since 1960.

For many, Hancock’s ultimate career highlight was his time playing with Miles Davis in the jazz legend’s Second Great Quintet; along with Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter and Tony Williams, Hancock was part of one of the best jazz ensembles ever.

Besides his new obligations to the LA Phil, Hancock is also working on a new album – due for release in 2010. He describes it as capturing “peace through global collaboration.”

The album features artists such as Jeff Beck, Dave Matthews, Chaka Khan and Tracy Chapman.

Hancock and classical pianist will be joined by the Los Angeles Philharmonic on the Hollywood Bowl stage for a night of ‘explosive pianistic pyrotechnics’ August 7th and 8th.