On Sunday, October 28, 2007, the Kodak Theatre located at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue will be packed to capacity when an all-star cast will be paying tribute to Herbie Hancock and Thelonious Monk International Jazz Trumpet Competition.
Witout a doubt, the tribute will be one of Hollywood's treasured musical events this year when the 67-year-old keyboardist gets props from one of his early colleagues, Quincy Jones, who will be appearing as a special guest.
I was not even a jazz "freak" when I first dabbled into what would be my favorite of Hancock's recordings. The year was 1981 when a two record set was being played on a turntable, back in the day. The album was V.S.O.P: The Quntet, released in 1977, recorded from two live performances; one at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles and the other at U.C. Berkeley. It was a landmark performance with Hancock on keyboards, Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Tony Williams on drums and the magnificent Wayne Shorter of Weather Report on tenor and soprano saxophones.
The track listing of this great album, my best of Hancock recordings and I still have the vinyl LP is a masterpiece whatever moment its being played:
1. "One of a Kind"
2. "Jessica"
3. "Lawra"
4. "Dolores"
5. "Third Plane"
6. "Byrdlike"
7. "Darts"
8. "Little Waltz"
The tribute sponsored by Cadillac and GMAC Financial Services will be featuring Joni Mitchell, Chris Botti, Sting, Jamie Foxx, George Benson, Al Jarreau, Nancy Wilson, Wayne Shorter, Terrence Blanchard, George Duke and many, many others. It's going to be a hell of a show and I will be there live.
Also, the event will be benefitting Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz in Los Angeles.
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