Newport Jazz Festival 1988

Pianist, keyboardist, bandleader, and composer Herbert Jeffrey “Herbie” Hancock was born April 12, 1940 in Chicago, Illinois.

Hancock’s classical piano training started at age 7 and at eleven he performed Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 26 in D Major with the Chicago Symphony.

After a period of self-instruction and studies with jazz pianist Chris Anderson,Hancock gigged with Donald Byrd, Coleman Hawkins, Oliver Nelson and Phil Woods.

He joined the Miles Davis Quintet in 1963 and has remained on top of the art form ever since.

The Herbie Hancock Trio playing live at the 1988 Newport Jazz Festival.

Personnel:

Herbie Hancock, piano
Buster Williams, double bass
Al Foster, drums

At the Mount Fuji Jazz Festival on Aug. 28, 1987, the Miles Davis rhythm section of 1963-68 (pianist Herbie Hancock, bassist Ron Carter, and drummer Tony Williams) had a rare reunion.

For a modernized version of “It’s Only A Paper Moon,” the trio is joined by the masterful vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson who makes the group quite an all-star quartet.

Hutcherson and Hancock are in the spotlight during this adventurous version of the swing era standard, and the group blends together so well that one would think they performed together on a regular basis.