Hancock to Play Playboy Jazz Festival

06/05/2004 9:36 AM, Reuters
Dan Ouellette

When Southern California resident Herbie Hancock takes the stage at the Playboy Jazz Festival, it will, remarkably, be his first appearance at the Hollywood Bowl two-day bash.

He will be joined by two Playboy rookies, saxophonist Wayne Shorter and bassist Dave Holland, as well as drummer Brian Blade. The quartet promises to be one of the marquee acts at the 26th annual festival June 19-20.

Other headliners include Hugh Masekela, Brian Culbertson, Bill Cosby 's Cos of Good Music IX band, Gerald Wilson, Bela Fleck and the Wynton Marsalis Septet.

Hancock is no stranger to superstar ensembles. He was the piano mainstay in Miles Davis' classic '60s quintet. Afterwards he mixed and matched music with a number of all-star groups, including the 2002 quintet of tenor saxophonist Michael Brecker, trumpeter Roy Hargrove, bassist John Patitucci and Blade.

That group recorded "Directions in Music: Live at Massey Hall," a vibrant spin on Davis' and John Coltrane's music. Hancock and Shorter, another Davis quintet alum, recorded the 1997's "1 + 1," considered a masterpiece, and continue to tour as a duo. (Verve released both CDs.)

"This new group should be interesting," Hancock says. "We've all worked together before."

The quartet will practice in Oregon for three days to prep for its U.S. and European tour, which begins in Medford, Ore., continues in San Francisco, then touches down at the Playboy Festival.

"Wayne and I have surprising things happen to us when we improvise together," Hancock observes. "As a quartet, we may work on material we developed as a duo and see if we can push the envelope in the same way."

Reuters/Billboard