Herbie Hancock & Wayne Shorter 2014

Jazz legends Herbie Hancock & Wayne Shorter have posted a timely open letter to the next generation of musicians, addressing music, the world situation and life in general, noting – “We’d like to be clear that while this letter is written with an artistic audience in mind, these thoughts transcend professional boundaries and apply to all people, regardless of profession.”

Opening excerpt –

“We find ourselves in turbulent and unpredictable times.

“From the horror at the Bataclan, to the upheaval in Syria and the senseless bloodshed in San Bernardino, we live in a time of great confusion and pain. As an artist, creator and dreamer of this world, we ask you not to be discouraged by what you see but to use your own lives, and by extension your art, as vehicles for the construction of peace.

“While it’s true that the issues facing the world are complex, the answer to peace is simple; it begins with you. You don’t have to be living in a third world country or working for an NGO to make a difference. Each of us has a unique mission. We are all pieces in a giant, fluid puzzle, where the smallest of actions by one puzzle piece profoundly affects each of the others. You matter, your actions matter, your art matters.”

Read the letter in its entirety here.

Also, a friend passed along this amusing, insightful (5-minute) interview with Herbie Hancock on playing with Miles Davis and how it affected his philosophy on life.