Herbie Hancock: Jazz legend talks about spirituality and innovation!

Herbie Hancock: Jazz legend talks about spirituality and innovation!

Herbie Hancock, one of the most dazzling personalities of jazz, recently announced in an interview for the German press agency that he simply has no desire for comparisons with other musicians. At the age of 85, Hancock does not see life in hierarchical categories. Instead, he encourages the question to ask himself: "Is you a better person today than yesterday?" This attitude is part of his philosophy, which is characterized by his practiced Buddhism, in which he has lived internationally as a member of Soka Gakkai for over 50 years. In line with his mentor Daisaku Ikeda, who died on November 15, 2023, Hancock reflects on the importance of compassion and transformation in the life of the individual - topics that Ikeda also dealt with in his work "The Human Revolution".

At the age of seven, Hancock began playing the piano, and at the age of 14 he developed a passion for jazz. His career took a decisive momentum when he joined Miles Davis's legendary band at the age of 23. This meant a turning point for him, because Davis helped him to transform supposed musical mistakes into something magical. Hancock is not only a grandiose musician and composer who has won over 14 Grammys and an Academy Award, but also a pioneer who connects jazz with radio and electronic music. His willingness to innovate has always made it possible for him to research new sounds and experiment with various styles. He describes this as a normality in his career.

redefine the jazz

The roots of jazz are deeply rooted in the 19th century and were created in an environment in the United States shaped by slavery and racial discrimination. Jazz has shaped the 20th century musically and developed through diverse influences, including street music and brass bands. As part of this development, Hancock is a real pioneer of the jazz experiment. The cohesion among jazz musicians is particularly important to him, and he wants to motivate the next generation of musicians to experience the same freedoms when making music that he was allowed to enjoy.

As is often the case in the jazz scene, Hancock has also been shaped by mutual support from older musicians during his early days. This encouragement is something that he wants to pass on to the younger ones. For this he will soon be on stage, specifically on July 1st in Hamburg and on July 7th in Munich. The anticipation for these concerts is great, because Hancock always brings fresh energy and creativity into his appearances.

Buddhism and music

Herbie Hancock’s identity goes far beyond making music. He not only sees himself as a musician, but also as a husband, father and neighbor - a multifaceted personality who challenges the ideas of identity. Ikeda's teaching about the intrinsic value of every individual and the power of faith with which painful circumstances can be transformed are deeply rooted in Hancock's life and work. For him, music is a means of embodying faith and hope, and through his art he conveys how important it is to believe the good in man.

In a time when the jazz landscape changes through digitization and platforms such as Spotify, Hancock's commitment is not only important for music, but also for intercultural dialogue. As a UNESCO-goodwill ambassador, he actively works for the exchange and understanding between different cultures. He remains true to the roots of jazz, the core value of which is the improvisational freedom and the expression of its emotions.

Herbie Hancock is more than just a jazz musician - he is a lively example of how music can change the world, and an ambassador for peace and compassion in an often turbulent world.