Hancock looking forward to spread jazz in India

Washington, Feb 13: Legendary jazz musician and Grammy winner, Herbie Hancock, is eagerly looking forward to spread jazz in India during his third trip to the country.Part of a US cultural delegation, visiting India to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the visit of Dr Martin Luther King Jr, Hancock is taking along with a group of musicians and singers who would perform at various places in India, during the trip.

"We look forward to bringing music and jazz education to the people of India through this historic tour that celebrates the philosophies of Dr King and Mahatma Gandhi, two very inspirational political and spiritual leaders whose teachings have really encouraged me to lead a life of peace, honesty, and filled with love for my fellow man," Hancock said. He was speaking at a State Department function organised wherein the Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, sent off the delegation. On his first trip to India some 15 years ago, he said he was humbled to meet Mother Teresa and then "filled with joy having several opportunities to contribute to the cultural fabric of the Indian people through performance and jazz education workshops." Herself a fan of Hancock, Clinton said it's a great reminder from the incomparable Herbie Hancock that jazz is not just about music. "I think jazz is a pretty good guide to most things in life, and I can tell you, as Secretary of State, I'm improvising every single day," she said amid laughter and applause. Hancock said he is honoured to be travelling to India with his fellow musicians, singers Chaka Khan, Dee Dee Bridgewater, pianist George Duke, and young students who are studying with the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz performers in New Orleans, of which he is the chairman. "We look forward to being a part of the Living Dream concerts in Mumbai and Delhi, and then working with the students who attend the Ravi Shankar Institute of the Performing Arts, where our students are going to be able to exchange valuable lessons with the young Indian musicians and prove again that the language of jazz knows no boundaries," he said. Bureau Report