For Immediate Release: Press Contacts: September 9, 2013 PR@CSO.org Rachelle Roe, 312-294-3090 Photos Available By Request Maggie Berndt, 312-294-3092

HERBIE HANCOCK QUARTET OPENS

20TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON OF SYMPHONY CENTER PRESENTS JAZZ SERIES

WITH SPECIAL GUEST ZAKIR HUSSAIN

Friday, October 11 at 8 p.m.

CHICAGO — With an illustrious career spanning five decades, pianist Herbie Hancock

opens the Symphony Center Presents Jazz 20th anniversary celebration on Friday,

October 11 at 8 p.m., making his first appearance at Symphony Center since 2010 and

his first appearance on the Jazz series since 2004.

For this performance, Hancock performs as part of the Herbie Hancock Quartet, rounded

out by guitarist Lionel Loueke, bassist James Genus, and drummer Vinnie Colaiuta.

Joining the quartet for this performance is special guest Zakir Hussain, the classical

tabla virtuoso. Two innovators in their respective genres, Hancock and Hussain have

been frequent collaborators over the years; most recently, Hussain joined the Herbie

Hancock quartet for a critically acclaimed South American tour earlier this year.

Herbie Hancock is considered a true icon of modern music, celebrated throughout the

world as a visionary performer who consistently expands the possibilities of musical

thought. Hancock’s musical explorations have transcended limitations and genres and

won him 14 Grammy Awards, including the 2008 Album of the Year for River: The Joni

Letters and 2011 Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for “Imagine” off of The Imagine

Project. A classically trained pianist, Hancock performed at age 11 with the Chicago

Symphony Orchestra, and he has influenced generations of jazz artists with his singular

style, which he developed on such classic albums as 1965’s Maiden Voyage and through

his work with the Miles Davis Quintet and his own bands, including Headhunters.

Throughout his long career, Hancock has always pushed himself, alternating between

acoustic jazz work with longtime associates such as Wayne Shorter and electronic

projects, which now include performing with synthesizer and computer.

Zakir Hussain, percussionist and tabla virtuoso, is widely considered a chief architect of the

contemporary world music movement, with many historic collaborations and recordings and

performances with artists as diverse as George Harrison, Yo-Yo Ma, Joe Henderson, Van

Morrison and the Kodo drummers among many others. The foremost disciple of his father, the

legendary Ustad Allarakha, Hussain was a child prodigy who began his professional career at

the age of 12 and had toured internationally with great success by the age of 18. He has been

the recipient of many awards, grants and honors, including Grammy Awards in 1991 and 2009

for Best World Music Album for Planet Drum and Global Drum Project, both collaborations with

Mickey Hart. His music and extraordinary contribution to the music world were honored in April

2009, with four widely-heralded and sold-out concerts in Carnegie Hall’s Perspectives series.

Also in 2009, Hussain was named a Member in the Order of Arts and Letters by France’s

Ministry of Culture and Communication.

Symphony Center Presents Jazz 20th Anniversary: The widely heralded Symphony Center

Presents Jazz series has brought jazz’s most famous names and rising young stars to Chicago

for almost two decades. In honor of its 20th anniversary season, the series salutes the past and

future of the art form with 10 concerts that not only celebrate the unprecedented roster of

legends and innovators who have graced the series throughout its history, but also showcase

Chicago’s homegrown talent and debut artists.

Upcoming Jazz series concerts:

Friday, November 22 at 8 p.m. – The Joshua Redman Quartet with opening act Muhal Richard Abrams

Friday, January 31 at 8 p.m. – An Evening with Branford Marsalis with opening act Ray Anderson’s Pocket Brass Band

Saturday, February 15 at 8 p.m. – Jack DeJohnette, Joe Lovano, Esperanza Spalding and Leo Genovese: The Spring Quartet with opening act Gregory Porter

Tuesday, March 11 at 8 p.m. – Pat Metheny Unity Group with Chris Potter, Antonio Sanchez, Ben Williams and Giulio Carmassi

Friday, March 28 at 8 p.m. – Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis

Friday, April 18 at 8 p.m. – Mavis Staples / Regina Carter’s Southern Comfort (co-headliners)

Friday, May 2 at 8 p.m. – Terri Lyne Carrington’s The Mosaic Project featuring Lizz Wright, Carmen Lundy, Nona Hendryx, Geri Allen, and Tia Fuller

Friday, May 30 at 8 p.m. – Jason Moran and Theaster Gates

Friday, June 13 at 8 p.m. – Jon Faddis’ Triumph of Trumpets / Marcus Roberts’ New Orleans Swing Time (co-headliners)

The Symphony Center Presents Jazz series is sponsored by BMO Harris Bank. Complete program details follow:

Symphony Center Presents Friday, October 11, 2013, 8 p.m.

Jazz Series Herbie Hancock Quartet with Special Guest Zakir Hussain Herbie Hancock, piano

Lionel Loueke, guitar James Genus, bass Vinnie Colaiuta, drums Zakir Hussain, tabla

Tickets: $30–$134

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About the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association (cso.org): The Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) is consistently hailed as one of the greatest orchestras in the world. Its music director since 2010 is Riccardo Muti, one of the preeminent conductors of our day. The venerable Pierre Boulez is the CSO’s Helen Regenstein Conductor Emeritus. The renowned musicians of the CSO annually perform more than 150 concerts, most at Symphony Center in downtown Chicago and, in the summer, at the suburban Ravinia Festival. The CSO also appears in other U.S. cities, and each year tours internationally. Since its founding in 1891, the Orchestra has made 56 international tours, visiting 28 countries on five continents. At home and on tour, tickets are always in high demand and frequently sold out; occasional performances and rehearsals are free. The CSO is part of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association (CSOA), which also includes the acclaimed Chicago Symphony Chorus; the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, a unique training orchestra; CSO Radio broadcasts and webcasts worldwide; and CSO Resound, a best-selling record label. Recordings by the CSO have won 62 Grammy Awards®. Through its Symphony Center Presents series, the CSOA offers dozens of performances each year by famous guest artists of jazz, pop, contemporary, world, and classical music. Through its Institute for Learning, Access, and Training, the CSOA offers a variety of youth, community and education programs, all of which are based on the concept of Citizen Musicianship, using and promoting the power of music to contribute to our culture, our communities, and the lives of others. Celebrated cellist Yo-Yo Ma is the CSOA’s Judson and Joyce Green Creative Consultant; Deborah F. Rutter, a highly regarded arts executive, is the CSOA’s president. Tickets for all Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association concerts can be purchased by phone at 800-223-7114 or 312-294-3000; online at cso.org, or at the Symphony Center box office: 220 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60604. Discounted student tickets for select concerts can be purchased, subject to availability, online in advance or at the box office on the day of the concert. For group rates, please call 312-294-3040. Artists, programs and prices are subject to change.