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Jazzback Thursday 🎶 1995 Herbie Hancock Institute International Guitar Competition's iconic judging panel: left to right: Jim Hall, John Scofield, Pat Metheny, Pat Martino, and Mark Whitfield. That year’s 1st-place honor went to Dutch guitarist Jesse van Ruller, who went on to become one of Europe’s most celebrated jazz musicians.

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Jazzback Thursday 🎶 Backstage brilliance at the 1995 Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Competition—Wynton Marsalis, Al Grey, and Jimmy Heath sharing stories, wisdom, and laughter between sets. Moments like these are the heartbeat of jazz: mentorship, legacy, and community.

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Jazzback Thursday 🎺 A look back at the 1997 Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Trumpet Competition, featuring one of the most iconic judging panels in the competition’s history.

Arturo Sandoval, Clark Terry, Randy Brecker, Jon Faddis, Art Farmer, and Wallace Roney—six legendary trumpeters, each with a singular voice and legacy.

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Jazzback Thursday 🎶 A look back at the 2023 Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Piano Competition at the Perelman Performing Arts Center in New York City.

Jahari Stampley of Chicago took First Place, with Connor Rohrer (Mechanicsburg, PA) in Second and Paul Cornish (Houston, TX) in Third.

The all-star jury included Bill Charlap, Orrin Evans, Herbie Hancock, Hiromi, and Danilo Pérez.

The evening also honored Dianne Reeves with the Maria Fisher Founder’s Award and Frank Gehry with the Herbie Hancock Humanitarian Award.

Photo (l–r): Herbie Hancock, Jahari Stampley, Connor Rohrer, Paul Cornish

Photo: Steve Mundinger / Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz

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Jazzback Thursday 🎶 Herbie Hancock captured by the Pacific 🌊 by Jim McCrary on October 21, 1976

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Jazzback Thursday 🎶 American saxophonist Jackie McLean teaching the Institute college program students in 1997.

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Jazzback Thursday 🎶 Roy Haynes, Jon Hendricks & Percy Heath

“I'm still growing. I take each day, one day at a time. I'm always thinking and dreaming. As long as this heart keeps beating, there will be new things coming along.”

—Roy Haynes

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Jazzback Thursday 🎶 Late '90s, Rosemary Clooney and David Sanborn backstage at a Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz benefit concert at Madison Square Garden.

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Jazzback Thursday 🎶 April 30, 2025, Abu Dhabi, UAE— International Jazz Day Global Concert at Etihad Arena: Musical Director John Beasley conducting the All-Star Global Concert hosted by Jeremy Irons with (from L to R) Danilo Pérez, Herbie Hancock, Hélène Mercier, Rhani Krija, Naseer Shamma, Dianne Reeves, Janis Siegel, Ruthie Foster, Linda May Han Oh, Marcus Miller, Tomoaki Baba, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Kurt Elling, Varijashree Venugopal, José James, John McLaughlin, Nils Landgren, Arturo Sandoval and other all-star artists.

Watch the full concert for free on www.jazzday.com

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Jazzback Thursday 🎶 Ron Carter, Tony Bennett & Wayne Shorter after the Inaugural Ball in 1993 in Washington D.C.

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Jazzback Thursday 🎶 Grover Washington, Jr. in 1993 giving an unforgettable informance and masterclass at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts in Vienna, VA. Inspiring the next generation—one note at a time—has been the mission of the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz .

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Never judge anyone, because you don’t know what they’re bringing to the table, and usually [it’s] a whole buffet!

—Grover Washington Jr., American Jazz Saxophonist

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We are just 30 days away from International Jazz Day! 🎶 Watch the All-Star Global Concert on April 30 on jazzday.com or register for in-person concert tickets in Abu Dhabi here.

“Jazz has always been about bringing people together, breaking barriers, and inspiring creativity across cultures. International Jazz Day reminds us that music has the power to transcend borders, foster dialogue, and spark joy and hope. Hosting this celebration in Abu Dhabi, is an incredible opportunity to showcase the unifying power of jazz on the world stage.”

— UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock

“As a UNESCO City of Music, hosting International Jazz Day underlines Abu Dhabi’s commitment to cultivating Cultural Unity, fostering Peace and Understanding and celebrating established and emerging musicians and their remarkable talents.”

— H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi

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Jazzback Thursday 🎶 North Carolina, 1991: Artist and astronaut Ed Dwight presenting a sculpture to vibraphonist and percussionist Lionel Hampton at an Institute event at Duke University in North Carolina hosted by actress Phylicia Rashad.

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"I would say that Jazz is my own language..."

—Amy Winehouse, Singer & Songwriter

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“Just don't give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don't think you can go wrong.”

–Ella Fitzgerald, Queen of Jazz

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DJ Hairy Larry Presents Art Porter Playing Lay Your Hands On Me From The Archives Of Something Blue March 2, 2025

Thanks Marty, today we're going to listen to Arthur Lee Porter Jr.

Born in 1961 he started playing drums in his father's band, The Art Porter Trio, at the age of nine. When he was a teenager he picked up the saxophone. He went to school at the Parkview Arts and Science Magnet High School in Little Rock.

This is where it gets interesting. He was barred from playing in clubs because he was under 21. He was arrested and charged with working under-age in a nightclub serving alcoholic beverages.

Bill Clinton was Arkansas Attorney General at the time and he got the charges against Art Porter dropped. Later Clinton got the law changed to allow under-age musicians to appear in adult facilities as long as their legal guardians accompanied them. This law became known as "The Art Porter Bill".

In the eighties Porter moved to Chicago where he played with Jack McDuff and another Arkansas saxophonist, Pharoah Sanders, who also played with Art Porter in Little Rock. Pharoah Sanders, Art Porter Jr. and Art Porter Sr. are all recognized in the Arkansas Jazz Hall Of Fame.

Porter and his father performed for President Clinton during his 1993 inauguration, playing Amazing Grace at a prayer breakfast.

In 1996 Porter died in a boating accident after playing at the Thailand International Jazz Festival. He was only 35 years old when we all suffered this great loss to jazz music.

Go to the Something Blue website at https://sbblues.com for links to more about Art Porter and his music.

Art Porter - Art Porter Music Education