The National Endowment for the Arts will honor the 2022 NEA Jazz Masters —Stanley Clarke, Donald Harrison, Jr., Billy Hart, and Cassandra Wilson—and kick off a year-long celebration of the 40th anniversary of the program with a concert on Thursday, March 31, 2022, at 7:30 p.m. PT/10:30 p.m. ET. Held in collaboration with SFJAZZ at the SFJAZZ Center’s […]

The Institute is saddened to learn of the passing of Madeleine Albright, a towering figure in global diplomacy as well as a devoted supporter of jazz and the Institute’s educational mission. Albright was active with the Institute for over 25 years, beginning with her tenure as United States Secretary of State, when she was instrumental […]

Registration is now open for International Jazz Day 2022, with participants invited to add their April 30 events to the official calendar and map on jazzday.com. Registration is a great way for those celebrating International Jazz Day to broadcast their support for the initiative, and to ensure that each participating community is represented as part […]

The Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance at UCLA has resumed its monthly residency at renowned Los Angeles jazz spot Sam First following a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Class of 2023 recently gave its first evening of performances, consisting of two hourlong sets of creatively arranged standards and original compositions. Regular performances […]

With schools across the country returning to in-person learning, the Institute’s college program recently welcomed a host of guest instructors back to campus at The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music to conduct socially distanced master classes and workshops for the Class of 2023. As part of preparing the Institute students to navigate the music […]

Dr. JB Dyas, the Institute’s Vice President for Education and Curriculum Development, visited the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA) from November 17-19 for a residency with the school’s jazz ensembles. In collaboration with LACHSA jazz instructor Alex Hahn, a graduate of the Institute’s master’s level college program at UCLA, Dr. Dyas […]

As 2021 draws to a close, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to the Institute in honor of Giving Tuesday–today, November 30, 2021. Your gift helps the Institute bring life-changing jazz education programs to thousands of public school students across the United States. The Institute relies on private funding to offer its programs entirely free […]

Institute Chairman Herbie Hancock played a prominent role in today’s 75th anniversary festivities for the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), helping to raise awareness of the UN agency’s unique mandate to foster unity through shared knowledge and cultural heritage. Hancock, who serves as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Intercultural Dialogue, was invited […]

Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz and UCLA Announce Incoming Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance at UCLA Class of 2023 Los Angeles, CA – Eight extraordinary young jazz musicians have been selected for the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance at UCLA, Class of 2023 starting this fall. Each will attain a Master of Music […]

The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation announced that renowned saxophonist, composer, bandleader and Institute Trustee Wayne Shorter is among the recipients of the 2021 Doris Duke Artist Awards, recognizing his extraordinary contributions to composed and improvised music over a career spanning more than six decades. Shorter joins his bandmate, UNESCO Artist for Peace and longtime Institute […]