Composer / producer/vocalist/ multi-instrumentalist Xantoné Blacq and his all-star band including Troy Miller will explore and celebrate the jazz funk music innovations and collaborations of Herbie Hancock @ Jazz Café POSK on Saturday 23^rd of March. “The influence of Herbie and ‘Head Hunters’ on the history of funk and jazz funk cannot be overstated,” says Blacq. “Expect the well-known classics and… expect the unexpected. And be ready to dance!” Preview/interview by Tomasz Furmanek (*)

London Jazz News: Tell us about the “Celebrating Herbie Hancock”. What aspects of Herbie’s music will you be focusing on during the show?

Xantoné Blacq: Three world class musicians and I will be performing music that Herbie Hancock created and collaborated on during the 1970s. This includes the music of people like Jaco Pastorius that Herbie performed on. We will focus on the jazz-funk side of Herbie’s creativity. I am a particular fan of this music as it is full of improvisation and the spirit of jazz and funk combined. It feeds the mental and emotional parts of all us listeners and, very importantly, we can dance to it!

LJN: What do you love most in Herbie Hancock’s music?

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XB: Herbie has always been interested in possibilities and this is evident in his music. He searches for and usually uses unusual harmonies, rhythms, textural colours with synthesisers and more. His music also has a very beat and rhythm driven nature which is full of groove and connects to the rhythms of Africa.

LJN: Who will you be on the Jazz Café POSK stage with, and why those particular musicians?

XB: I am honoured to have three great friends and killer musicians come play with me. Troy Miller on drums has played with so many people, produced many leading artists and remains a monster musician. Ed Riches on guitar and Matheus Nova on bass have both played with top artists in the world and have so much funk and flexibility in their playing. And… we’re all great listeners so things are being created and evolving all the time. We played a New Year’s gig together for fun and it was so funky and fun that I immediately invited the guys to come play with me on this Herbie Celebration. Incredible chemistry.

LJN: What exactly is the “Free-Range Sunshine Music”?

XB: “Free-Range Sunshine Music” is how I describe what I compose, record and produce. It is the idea of playing music without boundaries/genres and the music always being something that lifts the person listening to it. The sun can be many types of orange, yellow… whether that be dark, moody orange all the way across to blazing, bright yellow. However, no matter which colour it is, it always blesses us with warmth and inspires things to grow. That is what “Free-Range Sunshine Music” is and does.

LJN: Why should all jazz funk lovers come to Jazz Café POSK on 23 March?

XB: I would like to invite everyone who enjoys inspiration, exploration and joy to come to our performance at Jazz Café POSK on 23 March. Whether you believe that you’re a fan of improvisation/jazz/funk or not, our performance is a human experience that we the band and everybody who attends will create together and share. We will have a wonderful time together and create beautiful memories. That’s the essence of Life! Right?…

(*) Tomasz Furmanek is Artistic Manager at Jazz Café POSK

Line up:
Xantoné Blacq – keyboards, vocal
Ed Riches – guitar
Matheus Nova – bass
Troy Miller – drums

XANTONE BLACQ AND FRIENDS: CELEBRATING HERBIE HANCOCK! @ Jazz Café POSK

Saturday 23 March 2024 / Bar 7:30 pm / music 8:30 pm

Tickets £20 on the door and Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/xantone-blacq-and-friends-celebrating-herbie-hancock-tickets-846454637607

Website: www.xanblacq.com
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@xanblacq/videos