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Published: Thursday, August 14, 2008
Words Matter / Herbie Hancock explores Joni Mitchell's work
By ROBERT DiGIACOMO, 609-272-7017


Veteran jazz artist Herbie Hancock's latest album, "River: The Joni Letters" (Verve), is typical of his genre-defying recordings and something altogether different: To honor the lyrically-driven work of iconic singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, the pianist, composer and arranger put the focus on her words, and bent the music to suit them.

The album, whose roster of performers includes Norah Jones, Tina Turner, saxophonist Wayne Shorter and Mitchell, captured the imagination of his peers, who this year awarded the 11-time Grammy winner his first Album of the Year trophy.

His big Grammy moment marked just the latest musical chapter for Hancock, whose long, diverse career has included an early stint with jazz legend Miles Davis, writing the theme for "Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids," earning an R&B hit in 1983 with "Rockit" and winning an Academy Award for the score of the film "Round Midnight."

Hancock, who performs Saturday, Aug. 16, at Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, spoke about the impact of winning Grammy's top prize, his creative process and why words mattered so much for "River."

Q: What did it mean to you to win the Grammy for best album?

A: That definitely was a highlight, more from the standpoint of what it represents for the music industry, for jazz and for people who aren't necessarily creating music and culture for the sake of celebrity, stardom or attention.

Q: Why did you want to explore Joni Mitchell's work in-depth?

A: The idea was suggested by an executive from Verve Records, Dahlia Ambach Caplin. ... I said that's a fantastic idea, because I do admire Joni Mitchell, not only for her artistry, but her integrity and her art and conviction and courage, and she's an amazing lyricist.

Q: Speaking of the lyrics, this was a new approach for you in that you had to think about music serving the words.

A: It's not that I completely ignored words in the past ... (but) I know that Joni's music is really about the words first, because the words express what she feels about something or what she observes about something, and the other elements support the words.

I felt like if I wanted to do justice to Joni and her music, I had to do the same thing and find my own way of delivering it, but using the words as the engine.

Q: Will there be a carryover from "River" to your next recording project?

A: Every project I try to do is a singular project ... but there is a carryover. The next project, the focus is not going to be Joni Mitchell's music. The focus is really about the issues of her times. It's going to be about the exchange between peoples of the worlds - a more global approach.

We're calling it "The Imagine Project" because the John Lennon song will be a kind of a theme. I want to do songs that address ... how individuals are affected by the issue of peace.

The second theme will be the environment and a sustainable planet, and the third thing will be poverty.

I haven't figured out all the elements or how to put this together.

Q: How will the project itself be sustainable?

A: To minimize the traveling, I'll try to use virtual recording over the Internet or other technological ways that exist.

I want to do things in different languages, including indigenous languages, because quite often it's the indigenous people of the world who understand more about taking care of the planet that we so-called more learned, civilized people - we're the ones who are screwing it up.

Q: How are these projects a reflection of Miles Davis' advice to you to never quite finish a piece of work?

A: What that means is to make something provocative, and don't provide all the answers. Put the question out there, so the audience has something to chew on.

Herbie Hancock

WHEN: 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16

WHERE: Music Box, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, Atlantic City

HOW MUCH: Tickets, priced at $75, are available at the Borgata box office, www.theborgata.com or ComcastTix at 800-298-4200.

WEB SITE: www.herbiehancock.com

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