An honour for Herbie as he served up a little Mwandishi

Pianist Herbie Hancock was honoured with a lifetime achievement award from the Jazz Foundation of America. Bruce Willis introduced Hancock during a benefit concert at the historic Apollo Theatre in Harlem, New York, on Friday. The night also saw a historic reunion of Herbie’s legendary ground breaking Mwandishi band from the early 1970s, including saxophonist Bennie Maupin, who plays in London next month, and trumpeter Eddie Henderson.

Hancock, 74, is also about to release his biography called ‘Possibilities’ in which he talks candidly about his life including the guidance of Miles Davis, finding the funk after Mwandishi, his Buddhism and a former addiction to crack cocaine.

The Jazz Foundation Of America helps jazz artists with emergency financial, medical and legal needs, handling over 6,000 cases a year and the event set out to raise $1.7 million for The Jazz Musicians Emergency Fund. Also honoured was trumpeter Clark Terry and there was a performance from a prodigious young pianist, 11 year old Joey Alexander, who releases his debut album next year.