Two of the most recognizable names in the modern jazz world, Herbie Hancock and Kamasi Washington, have announced a summer 2019 co-headlining tour.
The first leg of the joint tour will begin on July 30th at Vienna, VA’s Wolf Trap and continues throughout the month of August before wrapping with a show at The Greek Theatre in Berkeley, CA on August 23rd. The NPR tour announcement also notes that additional dates are expected to be added soon.
The pairing of Hancock and Washington couldn’t be more appropriate. While both come from straight jazz backgrounds, both have also made names for themselves as diverse artists whose sound appeals to a much wider audience than traditional jazz listeners. Herbie Hancock has been doing so for decades, dating back to his classic 1974 jazz-funk LP, Head Hunters. The younger Kamasi Washington has been at the forefront of the increasingly popular contemporary jazz scene since making a splash with his sprawling 2015 debut triple album, The Epic.
Both Hancock and Washington have also notably collaborated with artists outside of their own stylistic realms. Washington has plenty of experience working with a wide spectrum of artists, from jam bands like The String Cheese Incident to hip-hop superstars like Kendrick Lamar. Hancock has frequently reinvented his sound to capture music’s evolution over the years. He currently tours with a band featuring seasoned jazz legends like bassist James Genus and drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, as well as buzzworthy younger artists like guitarist Lionel Loueke and Terrace Martin on sax and synths.
Related: Kamasi Washington On Truth, His New EP, Working With Jam Bands & Hip-Hop Stars [Interview]
Terrace Martin, in particular, is a point of connection between Herbie and Kamasi. Martin and Washington both played significant roles in crafting Kendrick Lamar’s hit 2015 LP, To Pimp A Butterfly. Now an integral part of Hancock’s band, Martin has continued to bridge the gap between the old guard and the new wave, between Herbie and Kamasi. Last year, Hancock confirmed that both Kamasi and Kendrick would be among the many contemporary collaborators from the extended hip-hop world on his highly-awaited new album, which Martin is producing.
As Hancock explained to the San Diego Union-Tribune in early 2018,
I’m learning a lot from the young people I’m working with … because they built the new structures, social media and that whole arena, and that affects how you get things out in front of the public to let them know you’re working on something.
So I’m still learning, which I’m very happy about. I never want to stop learning. And I’m not even thinking in terms of: “I’ll do this record, get it out there, promote it, do some concerts, and then at some point I’ll work on the next record.” These days, you can put out two tracks, then something a little later that’s connected to the other two. So where you draw the line is up to the artist. It’s a new day.
See below for a list of Herbie Hancock and Kamasi Washington’s upcoming co-headlining tour dates. For a full list of the artists’ dates, head to Hancock’s website here or Washington’s website here.
[H/T NPR]