Eventalaide
  • Home
  • Arts
    • Design
    • Fashion
    • Movies
  • Food & Beverage
  • Music
  • Culture
  • Sport
    • 2018 Commonwealth Games
  • Business
    • Products
      • Automotive
  • Reviews
    • Fringe
  • Interstate
    • ACT
    • NSW
    • QLD
    • VIC
    • WA
  • Contact
    • About
Concert, Music, Reviews 0

Herbie Hancock at Festival Theatre Review

By Tony Polese · On October 21, 2024

“It’s not easy playing with musicians that play like this, on the other hand it isn’t either.” Quipped the American Jazz Musician and Bandleader.

Herbie Hancock graced the stage of the Adelaide Festival Theatre with subtle grace expected from one of the Jazz greats.

With a career spanning decades and 14 Grammy awards, few artists have had more influence on modern music than Herbie Hancock. The creative force behind timeless classics like Cantaloupe Island, Chameleon, and Rockit, Hancock’s genre-transcending appeal and unmistakable style have cemented his status as a living legend. He has transcended limitations and genres while maintaining his unmistakable voice, amazing audiences across the globe. 

At 84, Hancock is still pushing boundaries, fusing his signature jazz sound with elements of funk, rock, and electronic music. The night was a journey through his expansive career, with Hancock proving that age has only deepened his creativity and musicianship.

Starting with overture with minimum introduction the musical prowess filled the full house. Accompanied by guitar, drums, bass, and horn, Herbie acknowledged the audience’s involvement in a performance by stating this is a sextet, not a quintet. 

Herbie spoke of his friend who passed away (Wayne Shorter) before playing a meaningful arrangement Footprints with an extended keys solo. 

James Genus, Saturday Night Live, played bass; Terence Blanchard who has written over 80 film scores and scores for tv, three operas, two of which were performed at the Metropolitan Opera House played trumpet; Jaylen Petinaud one of the most sought after drummers in the music industry-on drums; and Lionel Loueke on guitar and vocals (in a made up language) completed the ensemble.

Known for his experimentation with electro styles, Herbie used a form of vocoder to play/sing up to four notes at a time using his voice. In this way he sang an honest and meaningful We Are All One Family. A great use of technology, and a reminder for us all to ‘turn poison into medicine.

The set included straight up hits such as Actual Proof, and Chameleon, but also a medley of the three tunes Hang Up Your Hang Ups, Rockit, and Spider. It was a great set that kept the audience engaged right up until the very end. 

In a world where many artists fade over time, Herbie Hancock continues to innovate and inspire. His Adelaide performance was nothing short of spectacular, a reminder that jazz, in the hands of a true genius, is always evolving.

Herbie Hancock at Festival Theatre Review
Tony Polese
October 21, 2024
9/10
9 Overall Score

AdelaideConcertfestivaltheatreherbiehancockreview
Share Tweet

Tony Polese

Writer & Editor

You Might Also Like

  • Announcement

    Laneway Festival’s 2026 lineup is out now!

  • Announcement

    Harvest Rock 2025 line-up delivers epic return

  • ACT

     Roll Up, Roll Up! The Circus Is Coming To Town. Park Waves Festival Is Set To Travel Australia-Wide In 2026 & The Line-Up Is Here

No Comments

Leave a reply Cancel reply

Posts by Calendar

October 2025
M T W T F S S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  
« Sep    

Find us on Facebook

Staff Login

Login to staff dashboard here.

© 2015 Eventalaide. All rights reserved. Website designed by LXB Visuals