Herbie Hancock is an icon of jazz. He is mentioned in the same breath as Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Charlie Parker. At the age of 78, the pianist and gifted composer is still drawn to new challenges, unusual collaborations, and unexplored territories. While many jazz musicians in the past merely reinterpreted established sound patterns, Hancock questioned the entire genre and transcended clearly defined boundaries. When Hancock performed a piano concerto by Mozart with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at the tender age of eleven in 1952, no one could have imagined the dream career that lay ahead of him. Encouraged by his early successes, he quickly became fascinated with the modern music styles of the time and jazz. His debut album Takin' Off, released on the legendary Blue Note label in 1962, featured the first hit "Watermelon Man.".