Uniting Through Music

Herbie Hancock (left) and Dianne Reeves perform at The Piano Man Jazz Club in New Delhi. (Photograph by Rakesh Malhotra)

Legendary Jazz pianist and composer Herbie Hancock teamed up with Grammy Award-winning vocalist Dianne Reeves, guitarist Leonard Brown and six students from the Los Angeles-based Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz, to bring their unique music to India for a 10-day tour in January 2024. The visit, part of the U.S. Department of State’s Global Music Diplomacy Initiative, wasn’t just about enthralling audiences with their music, it also carried a message of peace and the legacy of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Hancock and Reeves mesmerized the audience at a special concert at The Piano Man Jazz Club in New Delhi on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. “Jazz is a true representation of the ideals Dr. King stood for—freedom, democracy and equality,” noted Hancock. “It is an honor to share these ideals and reconnect with the wonderful people and musicians of India.”

Lessons in jazz

Beyond the stage, the ensemble conducted masterclasses and workshops with aspiring musicians. The American Center New Delhi pulsed with vibrant energy as Hancock graced the stage for a masterclass. Students from the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz performed a piece by American jazz trumpeter and saxophonist Ornette Coleman, a pioneer of the avant-garde movement in the 1960’s. The masterclass involved a detailed discussion about the history and structure of jazz, and moved to a demonstration of its different styles, including ragtime, New Orleans jazz, swing music, bebop and hard bop, Latin jazz, fusion and modern music.

Anurag Hoon, who participated in the masterclass, thanked the American Center and the U.S. Embassy for the opportunity to learn about jazz from the masters themselves. “Hearing it directly from Herbie Hancock is a dream come true,” he said. Hoon is the CEO of the Manzil Mystics Foundation, a nonprofit organization that strives to provide music education to children at all learning stages.

Jamming with the legends

The masterclass at the Global Music Institute (GMI) in Greater Noida featured conversations about various dimensions of music, exploring improvisation, composition and performance techniques. GMI’s ensemble showcased its skills alongside sitar maestro Shubhendra Rao and his son, pianist Ishaan Leonard Rao, as they explored the rich tapestry of Indian classical music.

The workshop wasn’t just about technical prowess; it was also about the essence of jazz—the ability to listen, respond and create in the moment. Describing the experience as “unreal,” Niyati Chaubey, a second-term student at GMI, said, “I could have never imagined that I would be performing with Dianne Reeves herself!”

Participants, ranging from seasoned professionals to eager students, engaged with the musicians, asking questions and soaking in the atmosphere of creative exchanges. The highlight of the masterclass was an impromptu jam session with all participating musicians performing Bob Marley’s “Waiting in Vain.”

“The distance between the jazz legends and us feels a little closer after this workshop, for which I’m really grateful,” said Nishtha Sood, an aspiring musician and fourth-term student at GMI. Hancock and Reeves didn’t just leave behind a room full of inspired musicians; they left behind a seed of hope, reminding everyone that music, like King’s dream, has the power to unite and transform.

Students of the Global Music Institute perform with Dianne Reeves (center). (Photograph courtesy Shivank Gupta)

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