Herbie Hancock

Herbie Hancock

Sound
Born 1940-04-12Chicago, Illinois, USA

Biography

Herbert Jeffrey Hancock (born April 12, 1940) is an American pianist, bandleader and composer. As part of Miles Davis's "second great quintet", Hancock helped redefine the role of a jazz rhythm section, and was one of the primary architects of the "post-bop" sound. He was one of the first jazz musicians to embrace synthesizers and funk. Hancock's music is often melodic and accessible; he has had many songs "cross over" and achieved success among pop audiences. His music embraces elements of funk and soul while adopting freer stylistic elements from jazz. In his jazz improvisation, he possesses a unique creative blend of jazz, blues, and modern classical music, with harmonic stylings much like the styles of Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel. Hancock's best-known solo works include "Cantaloupe Island", "Watermelon Man" (later performed by dozens of musicians, including bandleader Mongo Santamaría), "Maiden Voyage", "Chameleon", and the singles "I Thought It Was You" and "Rockit". His 2007 tribute album River: The Joni Letters won the 2008 Grammy Award for Album of the Year, only the second jazz album ever to win the award after Getz/Gilberto in 1965. As a member of Soka Gakkai, Hancock is an adherent of the Nichiren school of Mahayana Buddhism.

Movies (86)

Tuner
7.6

Tuner

2026Movie7.6
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets
6.7

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets

2017Movie6.7
Indecent Proposal
6.4

Indecent Proposal

1993Movie6.4
Miles Ahead
6.4

Miles Ahead

2016Movie6.4
'Round Midnight
7.1

'Round Midnight

1986Movie7.1
Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool
7.1

Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool

2019Movie7.1
We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial
4.6

We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial

2009Movie4.6
On the Shoulders of Giants
6.3

On the Shoulders of Giants

2011Movie6.3
Miles Davis: Kind of Blue
3.8

Miles Davis: Kind of Blue

2008Movie3.8
A Man's Story
6.9

A Man's Story

2011Movie6.9
Hargrove
7.0

Hargrove

2022Movie7.0
That Click
8.8

That Click

2019Movie8.8
A MusiCares Tribute To Barbra Streisand
5.6

A MusiCares Tribute To Barbra Streisand

2011Movie5.6
Branford Marsalis: Steep

Branford Marsalis: Steep

1991Movie
Dennis Hopper: The Decisive Moments
8.3

Dennis Hopper: The Decisive Moments

2004Movie8.3
The Making of Sun City
9.5

The Making of Sun City

1985Movie9.5
Kareem: Minority of One
7.2

Kareem: Minority of One

2015Movie7.2
Henry Mancini: 100 at the Hollywood Bowl

Henry Mancini: 100 at the Hollywood Bowl

2024Movie
Herbie Hancock - Live at Montreux Jazz Festival 2010

Herbie Hancock - Live at Montreux Jazz Festival 2010

Movie
Q85: A Musical Celebration for Quincy Jones
7.0

Q85: A Musical Celebration for Quincy Jones

2018Movie7.0
Herbie Hancock: Possibilities
5.9

Herbie Hancock: Possibilities

2006Movie5.9
I Love Quincy

I Love Quincy

1984Movie
Jazz at the White House

Jazz at the White House

2016Movie
Jacob Collier: In the Room Where It Happens
5.0

Jacob Collier: In the Room Where It Happens

2022Movie5.0
They All Came Out to Montreux
7.0

They All Came Out to Montreux

2023Movie7.0
Ron Carter: Finding the Right Notes
7.0

Ron Carter: Finding the Right Notes

2022Movie7.0
Celebrity Guide to Wine
8.5

Celebrity Guide to Wine

1990Movie8.5
Hitters
3.3

Hitters

2002Movie3.3
Music

Music

2010Movie
More Than Jazz

More Than Jazz

2016Movie
Chick Corea: The Musician

Chick Corea: The Musician

2017Movie
Quincy Jones : 75th Birthday Celebration Live at Montreux
6.2

Quincy Jones : 75th Birthday Celebration Live at Montreux

2008Movie6.2
Keep on Keepin' On
7.1

Keep on Keepin' On

2014Movie7.1
Before Midnight
4.0

Before Midnight

1986Movie4.0
Joni Mitchell: Woman of Heart and Mind
5.9

Joni Mitchell: Woman of Heart and Mind

2003Movie5.9
Herbie Hancock - Live at SummerStage 2022

Herbie Hancock - Live at SummerStage 2022

2022Movie
It Must Schwing: The Blue Note Story
8.1

It Must Schwing: The Blue Note Story

2018Movie8.1
Miles Ahead: The Music of Miles Davis

Miles Ahead: The Music of Miles Davis

1986Movie
Miles Electric - A Different Kind of Blue
7.0

Miles Electric - A Different Kind of Blue

2004Movie7.0
Joni Mitchell - The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize For Popular Song
9.0

Joni Mitchell - The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize For Popular Song

2023Movie9.0
Blue Note - A Story of Modern Jazz
7.2

Blue Note - A Story of Modern Jazz

1997Movie7.2
Experience Montreux

Experience Montreux

2013Movie
Blue Note Records: Beyond the Notes
6.7

Blue Note Records: Beyond the Notes

2019Movie6.7
All-Star Jazz Show: Live from The Ed Sullivan Theater

All-Star Jazz Show: Live from The Ed Sullivan Theater

2011Movie
Prachtig 80: Volume 2

Prachtig 80: Volume 2

2003Movie
Herbie Hancock Future2future Live
5.5

Herbie Hancock Future2future Live

2002Movie5.5
Larry presents: Best of The 80s

Larry presents: Best of The 80s

2004Movie
Herbie
8.0

Herbie

2025Movie8.0
River of Gold

River of Gold

2016Movie
Oscar Peterson: Music in the Key of Oscar
8.0

Oscar Peterson: Music in the Key of Oscar

1995Movie8.0
Charles Lloyd - Arrows Into Infinity
6.0

Charles Lloyd - Arrows Into Infinity

2014Movie6.0
Marcus
6.0

Marcus

2015Movie6.0
Quincy Jones: Breaking New Sound

Quincy Jones: Breaking New Sound

2008Movie
Bobby McFerrin: Spontaneous Inventions

Bobby McFerrin: Spontaneous Inventions

1987Movie
Miles Davis Quintet: Milan 1964

Miles Davis Quintet: Milan 1964

1964Movie
The Girls in the Band
6.2

The Girls in the Band

2011Movie6.2
Herbie Hancock: Jazz Channel
4.5

Herbie Hancock: Jazz Channel

2001Movie4.5
Dejohnette, Hancock, Holland and Metheny in Concert

Dejohnette, Hancock, Holland and Metheny in Concert

1990Movie
Buster Williams Bass to Infinity

Buster Williams Bass to Infinity

2019Movie
Gustavo Dudamel and Herbie Hancock Celebrate Gershwin

Gustavo Dudamel and Herbie Hancock Celebrate Gershwin

2011Movie
Santana: Hymns for Peace - Live at Montreux
7.0

Santana: Hymns for Peace - Live at Montreux

2004Movie7.0
Tribute to Miles - Jazz à Vienne
6.0

Tribute to Miles - Jazz à Vienne

2011Movie6.0
The Neville Brothers: Tell It Like It Is
7.7

The Neville Brothers: Tell It Like It Is

1991Movie7.7
Herbie Hancock At The Munich Summer Piano Festival
6.0

Herbie Hancock At The Munich Summer Piano Festival

1987Movie6.0
Lang Lang & Herbie Hancock - Live in Berlin
7.5

Lang Lang & Herbie Hancock - Live in Berlin

2012Movie7.5
Miles Davis: Around Midnight

Miles Davis: Around Midnight

2011Movie
Herbie Hancock Trio: Hurricane!

Herbie Hancock Trio: Hurricane!

1984Movie
Jazz Under the Skies

Jazz Under the Skies

1990Movie
Herbie Hancock Trio - Full Concert - 08/14/88 - Newport Jazz Festival

Herbie Hancock Trio - Full Concert - 08/14/88 - Newport Jazz Festival

2014Movie
DeJohnette, Metheny, Holland, Hancock - Parallel Realities Live
8.0

DeJohnette, Metheny, Holland, Hancock - Parallel Realities Live

2010Movie8.0
Marcus Miller - Master Of All Trades
4.2

Marcus Miller - Master Of All Trades

2006Movie4.2
The Jazz Channel Presents Herbie Hancock

The Jazz Channel Presents Herbie Hancock

2002Movie
World of Rhythm - Live in Lugano
8.0

World of Rhythm - Live in Lugano

2002Movie8.0
Live at Munich Summer Piano Festiva

Live at Munich Summer Piano Festiva

1988Movie
Jack DeJohnette, Pat Metheny, Herbie Hancock, Dave Holland: Parallel Realities Live... (Live at Mellon Jazz Festival)

Jack DeJohnette, Pat Metheny, Herbie Hancock, Dave Holland: Parallel Realities Live... (Live at Mellon Jazz Festival)

1990Movie
PBS Soundstage 1974: Chick Corea & Return to Forever + Herbie Hancock & The Headhunters

PBS Soundstage 1974: Chick Corea & Return to Forever + Herbie Hancock & The Headhunters

1974Movie
International Jazz Day Australia Concert 2019
8.0

International Jazz Day Australia Concert 2019

2019Movie8.0
Wayne Shorter: Live at Montreux 1996
10.0

Wayne Shorter: Live at Montreux 1996

1996Movie10.0
Herbie Hancock - The River Of Possibilities Tour - Jazz a Vienne

Herbie Hancock - The River Of Possibilities Tour - Jazz a Vienne

2008Movie
Herbie Hancock And The Rockit Band Live in London

Herbie Hancock And The Rockit Band Live in London

Movie
Herbie Hancock Special

Herbie Hancock Special

2004Movie
Herbie Hancock And The Rockit Band

Herbie Hancock And The Rockit Band

Movie
Antonio Carlos Jobim: An All-Star Tribute
10.0

Antonio Carlos Jobim: An All-Star Tribute

1995Movie10.0
Miles Davis - At La Villette
4.2

Miles Davis - At La Villette

1991Movie4.2
Don Lewis and The Live Electronic Orchestra

Don Lewis and The Live Electronic Orchestra

2024Movie
One Night with Blue Note
7.1

One Night with Blue Note

2004Movie7.1

TV Shows (15)

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
5.8

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

2014Series5.8
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
7.5

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

1962Series7.5
Saturday Night Live
6.9

Saturday Night Live

1975Series6.9
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
5.4

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

1992Series5.4
Great Performances
6.1

Great Performances

1971Series6.1
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
5.6

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

2003Series5.6
Girl Meets World
8.3

Girl Meets World

2014Series8.3
Classic Albums
7.7

Classic Albums

1997Series7.7
Jay Leno's Garage
7.3

Jay Leno's Garage

2015Series7.3
Rock Concert
8.3

Rock Concert

1973Series8.3
StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson
6.7

StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson

2015Series6.7
Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest
6.5

Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest

1972Series6.5
ECHO-Verleihung

ECHO-Verleihung

1992Series
By Whatever Means Necessary: The Times of Godfather of Harlem
3.3

By Whatever Means Necessary: The Times of Godfather of Harlem

2020Series3.3
The Grammys
8.6

The Grammys

1959Series8.6