SEATTLE, WA. (By Emily Glassman/ Starbucks Entertainment) - Hancock Music, Vector Recordings and Starbucks Hear
Music today announced the availability of their co-release, Herbie Hancock's new duets album, Possibilities, at Starbucks Company-operated locations and traditional music retail stores throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Additionally, and through a distribution agreement with Warner
Music International, Hancock's Possibilities is being released globally the week of August 29 at traditional music retail and select Starbucks locations. Today's announcement marks the first time Starbucks has made a CD available simultaneously at Company-operated locations in the U.S. and select international markets, including Australia, Germany, Japan and the United Kingdom.
Co-released by Hancock Music, Vector Recordings and Starbucks Hear Music, and produced by
Herbie Hancock and Alan Mintz, the genesis of the album was Hancock's vision of collaborating in studio to create music with some of the artists he most admires.
Herbie Hancock describes Possibilities this way: "This is real collaboration that we're doing here. It's all been decided at the session." For example,
John Mayer came to his recording session with a simple guitar phrase from which he and Hancock created a fully arranged song, replete with lyrics and a rhythm section of drums, bass and keyboards.
Sting and Hancock freshly reinterpret Sting's song "Sister Moon," from the album Nothing Like the Sun.
"Herbie Hancock has been an iconic figure in my personal pantheon for many, many years," said Sting. "Long before I was fortunate enough to work with him I had followed his startling trajectory from his work with Miles Davis, the Headhunters and up to the present day. While the core of his work has always been jazz, his openness to new ideas, technological as well as musical, has bestowed on him an ageless and natural 'hipness' that sits well with his playful genius. A deeply spiritual and delightful human being, Herbie rocks!"
"Pairing Herbie's legendary talents with such an unprecedented array of duet partners has resulted in an event album," said Ken Lombard, president of Starbucks Entertainment. "Every element of Possibilities is a result of unique collaboration - from Herbie's studio sessions with each of the artists and the work between the labels, to the promotion of the album globally by traditional retailers and Starbucks. We are honored to bring this special music experience to our customers around the world."
"We have always admired
Herbie Hancock for his immense and continued contribution to music. When we first learned that we might have an opportunity to work with him, we jumped at the chance," said Vector co-principal, Jack Rovner. Ken Levitan, Rovner's partner in Vector, added, "Possibilities is a truly unparalleled collection of collaborations. The album is everything we knew it could be."
About Possibilities
Herbie Hancock has remained influential and innovative through four decades of music making, having won ten GRAMMY(R) Awards, an Academy Award and countless other accolades for his various and influential work. The diverse lineup of artists who accepted Hancock's invitation to create and record music with him for the album is a testament to the breadth and magnitude of his impact. The collaborators are a diverse group of world-renowned musicians, and represent genres of music well beyond the world of jazz. The complete track listing follows:
1. "Stitched Up" (featuring John Mayer)
2. "Safiatou" (featuring
Santana and Angelique Kidjo)
3. "A Song for You" (featuring
Christina Aguilera)
4. "I Do It for Your Love" (featuring Paul Simon)
5. "Hush, Hush, Hush" (featuring
Annie Lennox)
6. "Sister Moon" (featuring Sting)
7. "When Love Comes to Town" (featuring
Jonny Lang and Joss Stone)
8. "Don't Explain" (featuring
Damien Rice and Lisa Hannigan)
9. "I Just Called to Say I Love You" (featuring Raul Midon)
10. "Gelo Na Montanha" (featuring Trey Anastasio)
