Mar 2, 2026 9:58 PM
In Memoriam: John Hammond Jr., 1942–2026
John P. Hammond (aka John Hammond Jr.), a blues guitarist and singer who was one of the first white American…
In support of the release of River: The Joni Letters (Verve), pianist Herbie Hancock will embark on a brief tour of West Coast venues this November.
In addition to band members Vinnie Colaiuta, Nathan East and Lionel Loueke, Hancock will be joined by young singer Sonya Kitchell. Kitchell will handle vocal duties for performances of songs appearing on the album, a tribute to Hancock’s friend and fellow music icon Joni Mitchell. “When Sonya and I first met at one of her performances last year, I was blown away by her professionalism, her grace and, of course, her amazing voice,” Hancock said. “We brought her in to perform Joni’s ‘All I Want’ for ‘River,’ and I was sold. She’s definitely one to watch, and I’m thrilled she can join us for the West Coast dates.”
West Coast tour dates include:
Nov. 8: Fairfield Center for the Performing Arts, Fairfield, Calif.
Nov. 9: John Van Duzer Theater, Arcata, Calif.
Nov. 10: Nob Hill Masonic Center, San Francisco (San Francisco Jazz Festival)
Nov. 11: Campbell Hall, Santa Barbara, Calif.
Nov. 14: Centennial Hall, Tucson, Ariz.
Nov. 15: Lensic Performing Arts Center, Santa Fe, N.M.
Nov. 16: Orpheum Theatre, Phoenix
For more details, go to herbiehancock.com.
Hammond came to the blues through the folk boom of the late 1950s and early 1960s, which he experienced firsthand in New York’s Greenwich Village.
Mar 2, 2026 9:58 PM
John P. Hammond (aka John Hammond Jr.), a blues guitarist and singer who was one of the first white American…
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