Herbie Hancock Jazzes Up Grammy's Top Nod

Feb. 8, 2008— -- Jazz legend Herbie Hancock is no stranger to change. In his nearly half-century career, Hancock has witnessed firsthand the transformation of the music industry. With every twist and turn, Hancock has found a way to explore new genres -- jazz, funk, R&B, even hip-hop -- and transcend the boundaries of musical thought, all the while retaining his unique personal sound.

"Sixty years I've been playing the piano," said Hancock, in an interview with ABC News. "I started off with classical music, and I got into jazz when I was about 14 years old. And I've been playing jazz ever since. But I've expanded [my interests] beyond the specifics of a narrow jazz viewpoint into a much broader one. I like the idea of an eclectic approach, incorporating jazz with other forms and other genres of music."

Not surprisingly, Hancock's latest endeavor, "River: The Joni Letters," for which he collaborated with singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, is no different.

"When the suggestion was made that I might consider doing music of Joni Mitchell, I thought it was a fantastic idea," said Hancock. "Joni, I admire not only for her music but for her person, because she's a person that really stands out for what she believes in."

Since its release last September, "River" has emerged as one of the most celebrated albums of the year. Accompanied by renowned saxophonist Wayne Shorter, bassist Dave Holland, drummer Vinnie Colaiuta and newcomer guitarist Lionel Loueke, "River" features stunning vocal performances by Norah Jones, Tina Turner, Corinne Bailey Rae, Luciana Souza, Leonard Cohen and Mitchell.

"I always try to find the best people that I can find," said Hancock. "The musicians are without parallel."

In keeping with his ability to continually reinvent himself, Hancock approached "River" in a completely new way, focusing primarily on the meaning of the lyrics rather than the beat, melody or harmony of the music.