Sting, Joni Mitchell, Chris Botti Lead All-Star Herbie Hancock Tribute Concert...

Sting, Joni Mitchell, Chris Botti, Chaka Khan, Al Jarreau, George Benson, Nancy Wilson, Wayne Shorter, Terence Blanchard, Clark Terry, Roy Hargrove, George Duke and many others* will come together for a special tribute concert on Sunday, October 28th, Kodak Theatre, Los Angeles to honor music legend Herbie Hancock. Rickey Minor will serve as Producer and Musical Director for the event. The tribute concert is part of the annual Thelonious Monk International Jazz Trumpet Competition. Sponsored by Cadillac and GMAC FInancial Services. (*artists subject to change)

The famous Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles will hold its first major jazz concert ever when celebrities, entertainment and business executives, government officials and musicians converge onstage to pay tribute to one of the greatest jazz musicians of all time. Legendary music icon and 10-time GRAMMY winner Herbie Hancock will be honored in an all star tribute concert on October 28, 2007 for all he has contributed to jazz and the music industry throughout his illustrious career. Under the direction of Producer and Music Director Rickey Minor, the concert will feature special performances from five-time GRAMMY-winning singer/songwriter and producer Joni Mitchell, 16-time GRAMMY-winning pop/rock icon Sting and other legendary musicians including Chaka Khan, Al Jarreau, Nancy Wilson, Wayne Shorter, Chris Botti, George Duke, George Benson, Terence Blanchard and Roy Hargrove. Additional performers and guest hosts to be announced. This year marks the very first time the world renowned jazz competition and concert will take place on the West Coast. The Competition and landmark tribute concert will air nationwide on BET (airdate TBA).

The Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition is the most prestigious jazz competition in the world. Each year the institute attracts the brightest young jazz talent in the world to compete for a series of scholarships. This year the competition will feature jazz trumpeters, with the semi-finalists performing before a legendary panel of judges including Quincy Jones, Herb Alpert, Terence Blanchard, Hugh Masekela, Clark Terry and Roy Hargrove at Schoenberg Hall on the University of California, Los Angeles Campus from 1:00-5:00 PM PST on October 27, 2007. Saturday's semi-finals round is FREE and open to the public. On Sunday night, the top three finalists will have one more opportunity to perform before thejudges and compete for the chance to become the winner of the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition and a ,000 scholarship. The second place winner will receive a ,000 scholarship and the third place winner will receive a scholarship for ,000. The all star tribute to Herbie Hancock will immediately follow. Celebrating more than 20 years of discovering the jazz stars of the future, the competition has served as the launching pad for such celebrated musicians as jazz pianist Marcus Roberts, saxophonist Joshua Redman and vocalists Jane Monheit and Tierney Sutton to name a few. Over the past two decades, the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition and Gala concert has gained worldwide recognition and respect for advancing and preserving the American legacy of jazz.

In addition to the tribute concert and competition, music legend, judge and Thelonious Monk Institute Advisory Board Member Quincy Jones will host an intimate dinner on Saturday evening for all participating artists, VIP guests and Institute supporters. To complete its arrival in Hollywood, the Institute will also host an elegant VIP reception immediately following the concert on Sunday night in the Grand Ballroom of the historic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.

The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz is also well respected and known for its achievements in furthering jazz performance and education among our nation's youth. In April of 2007 the Institute's Jazz Performance graduate-level college program was relocated to the campus of Loyola University New Orleans as part of their "Commitment to New Orleans" initiative. The largest initiative in the Institute's 20 year history, the "Commitment to New Orleans" is an education and community investment aimed to help in the revitalization and restoration of post Katrina New Orleans using jazz as a catalyst to bring people together in the spirit of America's music. The program aims to embody the Thelonious Monk Institute's mission to: foster the next generation of jazz greats, educate young people about jazz and help to expand and perpetuate the music while engaging the Institute's students and jazz artists in various community service projects throughout New Orleans. In addition to this initiative the Institute works in nineteen public schools throughout the LA Unified School District along with their national jazz education programs. Every dollar raised through the benefit will go to support and maintain these extraordinary programs. The Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition and All-Star Tribute to Herbie Hancock is sponsored by Cadillac and GMAC Financial Services.

The Recording Academy Los Angeles Chapter focuses on fostering educational growth to young musicians while creating new signature programs that highlight genre and community support. Through various initiatives and events, they focus on professional development and are dedicated to establishing relationships between their members, the community and other arts organizations.

TO PURCHASE TICKETS: Tickets are available from TICKETMASTER.COM or by calling (213) 480-3232. Tickets will also be available for purchase at the Kodak Theatre box office located at 6801 Hollywood Boulevard on level one of the Hollywood & Highland center. VIP ticket packages which include premium orchestra seating and access to the VIP cocktail reception and dinner immediately following the show are available starting at ,,000 by calling Levy, Pazanti and Associates at (310) 201-5033.