Herbie Hancock and Kamasi Washington, representing two generations of the exploratory spirit of Jazz, have announced that they are teaming up for a joint North American tour this summer. Kicking off July 30 in Virginia, the venture brings the pair to Huber Heights, Ohio's Rose Music Center on Aug. 7. The outdoor amphitheater, booked by Cincinnati-based promoter MEMI, has a nice season of shows lined up this year, including visits from Brian Wilson, 311, Sarah Mclachlan, The Stray Cats, ZZ Top, The B-52s and much more.
Tickets for the Hancock/Washingon co-headlining concert go on sale this Friday, April 12 at 11 a.m. via ticketmaster.com.
Hancock has one of the most illustrious careers in Jazz history. The pianist/keyboardist/composer got his start playing with Donald Byrd and Miles Davis in the 1960s. On his own, Hancock showed a tendency to experiment with different styles and sounds right out of the gate, pioneering electronic interpolation in Jazz and, in the ’70s, forming The Headhunters, a groove-heavy ensemble that had a huge influence on Funk, Soul, Rock and Hip Hop. He'd later experiment with Disco and Pop styles and earned a hit in the 1980s with the synth-heavy Electro/Hip Hop-flavored track "Rockit," which was a staple of MTV in its early heyday.
Hancock's forthcoming project looks to be keeping that progressive mindset alive, reportedly featuring collaborations with Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg, Thundercat, Flying Lotus and his tour partner Washington, who, like Hancock, has drawn a younger generation of music fans to Jazz with his open-minded, fusionary approach. Last year, Washington put out a pair of releases, Heaven and Earth and its counterpart The Choice, and this year his short film, As Told To G/D Thyself, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.
