Hancock honored at jazz benefit concert at Apollo

Herbie Hancock speaks at the 13th annual “A Great Night in Harlem” gala concert, presented by The Jazz Foundation of America to benefit The Jazz Musicians Emergency Fund, at The Apollo Theater on Friday, Oct. 24, 2014, in New York. AP

NEW YORK — Jazz legend Herbie Hancock says he’s ready to look for another job after hearing 11-year-old Indonesian jazz piano prodigy Joey Alexander pay tribute to him at a benefit concert for the Jazz Foundation of America at Harlem’s historic Apollo Theater.

Hancock received the JFA’s lifetime achievement award at Friday night’s concert that also included performances by Angelique Kidjo, Chaka Khan and Susan Tedeschi.

Actor Bruce Willis brought out Alexander to play a solo rendition of Thelonious Monk’s “Round Midnight,” saying he represents “the future of jazz.” Alexander says he was inspired by Hancock to dedicate himself to jazz.

Hancock says he was amazed by Alexander’s performance and jokes that the young Indonesian has “taken my job away from me.”

The concert also featured a historic reunion of Hancock’s groundbreaking jazz-fusion Mwandishi band from the early ’70s.