Photos by Kathryn Randall

Chicago’s own Herbie Hancock regularly ranks amongst the most respected jazz pioneers behind the piano, who was introduced to the world as a member of the Miles Davis Second Great Quintet and kept right on charting fresh courses in fusion, classical, pop and electronic circles. Los Angeles saxophone player Kamasi Washington may be a relative newcomer by comparison, but throughout the last decade and some change, gave not only the jazz scene a jolt with his innovative expressions, but also breathed additional life into the hip-hop, rap and R&B works of Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg and Raphael Saadiq.

Concertgoers were also treated to intoxicating rhythms of Herbie Hancock’s “Chameleon,” a collaboration with his co-headliner that brilliantly tapped into the evening’s improvisational spirit.

The forward-thinking pair was an ideal match for an evening set against the lovely lakefront overlooking Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island where they performed separate and together in what turned out to be a genre lover’s dream. Hancock is a year away from turning 80, but was in superb form alongside an A-list ensemble featuring drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, bassist James Genus, guitarist Lionel Loueke and multi-instrumentalist Terrace Martin (who’s on tap to produce the legend’s next slowly-marinating studio album).

Together, they turned in compositions from various periods of Hancock’s illustrious career, including “Actual Proof” and “Come Running To Me,” with limitless creativity and grooves galore. Concertgoers were also treated to intoxicating rhythms of “Chameleon,” a collaboration with his co-headliner that brilliantly tapped into the evening’s improvisational spirit.

Besides appearing with Hancock, 38-year-old Washington turned in an individual set of envelope-pushing selections from benchmarks albums such as “The Epic” and “Heaven And Earth” that culminated with the soulfully scorching jam “Fists Of Fury.” Rest assured the future of jazz is in extremely capable hands courtesy of both artists, who’s cross-generational pairing was nothing short of pure perfection.

Click here for more photos of Herbie Hancock and Kamasi Washington at Huntington Bank Pavilion.

For additional information on Herbie Hancock and Kamasi Washington, visit HerbieHancock.com and KamasiWashington.com.

Upcoming concert highlights at Huntington Bank Pavilion At Northerly Island include Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals and Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue (Aug. 17); North Coast (Aug. 30-31); Social Distortion and Flogging Molly (Sept. 7) and The Avett Brothers (Sept. 20). For additional details, visit LiveNation.com.

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