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.
Sound 17
2010s
- 2011
On the Shoulders of Giants
Original Music Composer
2000s
- 2000
1990s
- 1991
The Neville Brothers: Tell It Like It Is
Music Director
Livin' Large!
Original Music Composer
Rabbit Ears - Koi and the Kola Nuts
Music
1980s
- 1989
- 1988
- 1986
'Round Midnight
Original Music Composer, Conductor
Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling
Original Music Composer
- 1984
1970s
- 1974
- 1973
The Spook Who Sat by the Door
Original Music Composer
1960s
- 1969
Hey, Hey, Hey, It's Fat Albert!
Original Music Composer
- 1966
Herbie
Music
Acted in 24
2020s
- 2026
2010s
- 2017
- 2016
- 2014
Charles Lloyd - Arrows Into Infinity
Piano
- 2011
Gustavo Dudamel and Herbie Hancock Celebrate Gershwin
Movie
The Girls in the Band
Movie
Miles Davis: Around Midnight
Piano
On the Shoulders of Giants
Movie
2000s
- 2008
Herbie Hancock - The River Of Possibilities Tour - Jazz a Vienne
Piano
- 2004
Santana: Hymns for Peace - Live at Montreux
Movie
- 2002
- 2001
Herbie Hancock: Jazz Channel
Herbie Hancock
1990s
- 1996
Wayne Shorter: Live at Montreux 1996
Movie
- 1993
- 1992
- 1991
The Neville Brothers: Tell It Like It Is
Movie
- 1990
Dejohnette, Hancock, Holland and Metheny in Concert
Movie
Jack DeJohnette, Pat Metheny, Herbie Hancock, Dave Holland: Parallel Realities Live... (Live at Mellon Jazz Festival)
Keyboards
1980s
- 1988
Live at Munich Summer Piano Festiva
Movie
- 1986
'Round Midnight
Eddie Wayne
1970s
- 1978
- 1974
PBS Soundstage 1974: Chick Corea & Return to Forever + Herbie Hancock & The Headhunters
Movie
1960s
- 1964
Miles Davis Quintet: Milan 1964
Movie
Directed 1
2000s
- 2001
Herbie Hancock: Jazz Channel
Director
Wrote 1
2000s
- 2004
Janet Jackson: From Janet. To Damita Jo: The Videos
Musical
Appearances70
2020s
- 2025
Herbie
Self (Archives)
- 2024
Henry Mancini: 100 at the Hollywood Bowl
Self
Don Lewis and The Live Electronic Orchestra
Self
- 2023
They All Came Out to Montreux
Self
Joni Mitchell - The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize For Popular Song
Self
- 2022
Ron Carter: Finding the Right Notes
Self
Jacob Collier: In the Room Where It Happens
Self
- 2020
By Whatever Means Necessary: The Times of Godfather of Harlem
Self · 4 episodes
2010s
- 2019
Buster Williams Bass to Infinity
Himself
Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool
Self - Musician
Blue Note Records: Beyond the Notes
Self
International Jazz Day Australia Concert 2019
Self
- 2018
Q85: A Musical Celebration for Quincy Jones
Self
It Must Schwing: The Blue Note Story
Self
- 2017
Chick Corea: The Musician
Self
- 2016
More Than Jazz
Himself
Jazz at the White House
Self
River of Gold
Narrator
- 2015
Kareem: Minority of One
Self
Marcus
Self
- 2014
Keep on Keepin' On
Self
- 2013
Experience Montreux
Self
- 2012
Lang Lang & Herbie Hancock - Live in Berlin
Himself
- 2011
A Man's Story
Self
Tribute to Miles - Jazz à Vienne
Himself
A MusiCares Tribute To Barbra Streisand
Self - Performer
- 2010
Music
Self
2000s
- 2009
We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial
Self
- 2008
Miles Davis: Kind of Blue
Self
Quincy Jones : 75th Birthday Celebration Live at Montreux
Self
Quincy Jones: Breaking New Sound
Self
- 2006
Marcus Miller - Master Of All Trades
Self
- 2004
Miles Electric - A Different Kind of Blue
Self
One Night with Blue Note
Self
Larry presents: Best of The 80s
Self
- 2003
Prachtig 80: Volume 2
Self
- 2002
World of Rhythm - Live in Lugano
Self
The Jazz Channel Presents Herbie Hancock
Himself
Herbie Hancock Future2future Live
Himself
1990s
- 1997
Blue Note - A Story of Modern Jazz
Self
- 1995
Antonio Carlos Jobim: An All-Star Tribute
Self - Pianist
Oscar Peterson: Music in the Key of Oscar
Self
- 1991
Miles Davis - At La Villette
Himself
Branford Marsalis: Steep
Self
- 1990
Jazz Under the Skies
Self
Celebrity Guide to Wine
Self
1980s
- 1986
Before Midnight
Self (archive footage)
- 1985
The Making of Sun City
Self
- 1984
I Love Quincy
Self
Herbie Hancock Trio: Hurricane!
Self - Piano
1970s
- 1975
- 1973
- 1972
- 1971
1950s
- 1959
The Grammys
Self · 2 episodes
No release date
Herbie Hancock And The Rockit Band
Self
Herbie Hancock - Live at Montreux Jazz Festival 2010
Self — Acoustic piano / Keyboards