Remarks of Herbie Hancock
Monday,
April
2nd, 2007
Thelonious
Monk
Institute
of Jazz
Commitment
to New
Orleans
Announcement
It’s great to be back in New Orleans! And, as always, I’ve been enjoying every minute of it. On Saturday, I was honored to record a fats domino song as a tribute to one of New Orleans greatest musicians. Let me tell you – he is pushing 80 years old but he’s not letting up. Neither rain, nor wind, nor a hurricane called Katrina can stop him. Fats is one of the stories we all heard about during Katrina. There was a moment we thought we lost him. But he’s here and stronger than ever. Unfortunately that’s not the case for far too many musicians in New Orleans. Many had to leave town and still are unable to come home - which threatens New Orleans history, community, and its musical roots. That’s a large part of the reason we’re here today.
As the chairman of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, I’m so proud to announce our “Commitment to New Orleans, ” the largest program initiative in our twenty-year history. We’re making a major commitment to this city - embarking on a historic initiative to help restore New Orleans through jazz music.
A century ago, New Orleans gave the world jazz. Jazz became, and continues to be, synonymous with New Orleans. Jazz has been a unifying, cultural force in this city for over one hundred years. Today jazz, a uniquely American art form, is revered around the world. And it all began right here in New Orleans.
Jazz emerged as the music of pain and suffering, marked by the profound cultural contributions of African Americans, as they stood steadfast against oppression. Today we know that jazz can help the reemergence of New Orleans after America’s most devastating natural disaster.
At the heart of our commitment to New Orleans is the relocation of the Thelonious Monk Institute’s prestigious graduate-level college program right here to the campus of Loyola University. This jazz performance program will be taught in schools that are a part of the New Orleans consortium, which also includes Tulane, the University of New Orleans, Delgado, and three historically black colleges and universities: Dillard, Southern, and Xavier. Let’s give a round of applause for these great institutions of higher learning.
Now, that’s just the beginning of our commitment. The institute is also launching education programs in schools and communities across New Orleans – and we’ll be hiring New Orleans musicians and educators to help us. We’re starting this afternoon with a Jazz in America educational performance for McMain High School students, and we’ll continue with performances in communities across the city. Our mission is to foster the next generation of jazz greats, educate young people about jazz, and to perpetuate and expand the music.
Growing up, what I liked about jazz was the experience of expressing my personality – my heart and soul – and uncovering ways of creating my own spontaneous melodies. I could put more of myself into the experience of playing music. In jazz, you may be playing someone else’s song, but the interpretation and the rendition is all your own.
Since its inception, jazz has been the real voice of America and of democracy… it’s been the voice of the disenfranchised. It’s been the voice of people around the world who have proclaimed their right to freedom through this music. And, it’s been the voice of those suffering under apartheid and those trapped behind the iron curtain.
Jazz also uncovers great possibilities. The possibility of bringing New Orleans back. But it isn’t just a possibility – it’s going to happen. Because when jazz flourishes in New Orleans, New Orleans will flourish again too.