DownBeat April 2008 [antikvár]

Twilight World, the first new studio recording in a decade from jazz piano icon iVIarian McPartland.Released in celebration of her 90th birthday, this is truly a legendary recording from a legendary artistCD NOW AVAILABLEwww.concordmusicgroup.commCONCORDia77fiORDERS.Making Real HistoryAfter watching the Grammys for more than thiee-and-a-half hours, my eyes had glazed over a bit. But I had to keep the television on, to see if the seemingly impossible would happen: Herbie Hancock winning Album of the Year for his splendid interpretations of primarily Joni Mitchell songs. River: The Joni Letters.When Quincy Jones and Usher announced the five nominees for the top album, I thought about what a nice recognition it was for a jazz album to be among the fmalists (and about how much more deserving Hancock was than the Foo Fighters, Vince Gill, Kanye West and Amy Winehouse to capture the award).However, I didn't think that the Grammy voters would give their top honor to a jazz album. After all, it had only happened once before, and that was 44 years ago, in 1964 with CetzlGilberto-, and jazz sure hasn't seen its profile expand much with the general public since 1964.Then it happened, the moment that almost made me fall out of my couch. Jones opened the envelope, announced Hancock's win and spread his arms open wide. As the camera panned to Hancock at his seatwhich capftired the pianist in a state of shock with his mouth agapeyou could hear Jones let out his emotion in the background: "Aiihhhhh! Unbelievable!"With his genuine glee, Jones conveyed the thoughts and emotions of jazz fans worldwide. Hancock walked up to the stage to accept the Grammy, and he received the recognition he so tmly deserves."What a beautiful day this is in Los Angeles," Hancock said in his acceptance speech. 'This is a new day that proves that the impossible can be made possible."Almost a week after winning the award, Hancock still basked in the glow of his win when I caught up with him on the phone at his Los Angeles office. "The phone started ringing immediately," he said, then started laughing. "Also, my whole position with the press has made a huge shift. Now the major TV shows want me on. I'm doing 'The View' and the Jay Leno show."When asked to reflect on the significance of this award, Hancock quickly moved the spotlight away from himself and onto jazz in general."Let me clarify," he said. "It isn't about me. It's about jazz. As I expressed in my remarks when I received the award, I talked about die motivating force that was behind my determination to walk up there and receive the award. That was for all the people who are behind this success. The people who encouraged me, who helped me along the way. Musicians like MilesDavis, John Coltrane, Joe Zawinul, Wayne Shorter. I can sit here all day and name people. If advantages open up for me, advantages open up for jazz. Especially in this instance. It's Album of the Year. What makes this unique is that this is an album of jazz instmmentalists."Sure enough, the opening track on River, "Court And Spark," features long solos by Hancock and Shorter. Norah Jones, Tina Turner, Corinne Bailey Rae, Luciana Souza, Leonard Cohen and Mitchell provide vocals, but the album succeeds because of the improvi-sational rapport between Hancock, Shorter, Dave Holland, Lionel Loueke and Vinnie Colaiuta. Regardless of what nay sayers may remark about the Grammys being a glorified popularity contest, the awards are a big deal because of the enormous media exposure a win can bring. Hancock understands this, and he will not let this opportunity slip away. He does feel a sense of heightened responsibility for the music. He's eager to spread the gospel about jazz, but, of course, he's not really planning on changing his music."At this stage of my life, I'm looking for the talented, young musicians who have the poten-fial to shape new directions for jazz, and expand the music even further," he said, mentioning his work with Loueke. "I want to focus on those who I see as having Uie seeds of being the leaders of tomorrow's movements in jazz."I'm conscious that as musicians get older, their fan base grows older," he continued. "If someone doesn't do something to grow a new fan basea younger fan basethen there's a great chance ttiat the music will die along with tiie people who are making and listening to it. If jazz dies, America will get sick. It's a powerful, healing music that in its own way holds up the cultural integrity of the world."Amen to tiiat. This win is a spark that can help the worid hear die power of this music. Congratulations to Herbie Hancock, all of the musicians on River and to everyone at Verve. You created a truly historic moment for jazz. DB