Festival Hall invites you to experience The Jazz Legacy Project: Herbie Hancock, The Blue Note Years—a captivating evening that dives into one of jazz’s most exciting eras. What began with a fateful snowstorm and a last-minute chance to play with Donald Byrd, Blue Note’s biggest artist at the time, launched Herbie Hancock into a seven-year collaboration with the iconic label. Together they created some of the most popular and groundbreaking jazz of the 1960s.

This 90-minute program, narrated by drummer Justin Varnes, takes audiences on a journey through Hancock’s life and music—from writing about his Chicago childhood neighborhood to composing works that reflected the evolving spirit of the Civil Rights era. Blending storytelling with live performances of seminal jazz pieces, the evening illuminates the mind and music of one of America’s most influential composers.

Unlike a traditional tribute concert, The Jazz Legacy Project doesn’t attempt to recreate original performances—it celebrates the essence and accomplishments of legendary artists, helping both jazz lovers and casual listeners connect more deeply with the music.