HERBIE HANCOCK: Possibilities

Herbie Hancock has remained seminal and innovative through four decades of music making, having won ten GRAMMY® Awards, an Academy Award and countless other accolades for his various and influential work. The diverse lineup of artists who accepted Hancock's invitation to create and record music with him for his forthcoming duets album, Possibilities, is a testament to the breadth and magnitude of his impact. The genesis of the album was Hancock's vision of collaborating in studio to create music with some of the artists he most admires. The final list of collaborators is a diverse group of world renowned musicians who represent genres of music well beyond the world of jazz, including: John Mayer, Damien Rice and Lisa Hannigan, Sting, Annie Lennox, Joss Stone and Johnny Lang, Paul Simon, Raul Midà?n, Carlos Santana and Angelique Kidjo, Christina Aguilera and Trey Anastasio. Possibilities will be released simultaneously at Starbucks Company-operated locations and traditional retail stores by Hancock Music, Vector Recordings and Starbucks Hear Music beginning August 30, 2005.

Herbie Hancock describes Possibilities this way: "This is real collaboration that we're doing here. It's all been decided at the session," and calls the album, "a record without borders, woven like a tapestry with many colors." John Mayer came to his session with a simple guitar phrase from which he and Hancock created a fully arranged song, replete with lyrics and a rhythm section of drums, bass and keyboards. Sting and Hancock freshly reinterpret Sting's song 'Sister Moon', from the album 'Nothing Like the Sun'.

As with the multi-platinum, eight GRAMMY®-winning Ray Charles' Genius Loves Company, Starbucks will participate in all facets of the project's lifecycle - from facilitating production to distribution and marketing of the album, which will be sold in traditional retail outlets as well as at Starbucks locations.

"We have always admired the enormous talents of Herbie Hancock," said Vector principal Ken Levitan. "When Jack Rovner and I first learned that we might be able to work with Herbie, we immediately jumped at the opportunity. And for the relationship to begin with a project as exciting as Possibilities is more than we could have hoped for. There are very few artists whose contribution to music has been as substantial and original as Herbie Hancock's. It is a great privilege to be undertaking this project with him."

"We are honored to be working with Herbie Hancock and the unprecedented array of talented artists he has assembled to create this truly special event album," said Ken Lombard, president, Starbucks Entertainment. "Following the success of Ray Charles' Genius Loves Company, Possibilities reflects our ongoing commitment to working with innovative artists and labels to create unique projects which we believe our customers will embrace."

The newly formed Herbie Hancock's Headhunters '05 just performed their first live shows together, including this year's Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Manchester, TN, where Hancock will had the honor of being the festival's first Artist in Residence, performing with other artists and bands in the festival lineup. Herbie Hancock's Headhunters '05 features an all-star lineup of musicians, including Hancock (piano), John Mayer (guitar), Marcus Miller (bass), Roy Hargrove (trumpet), Kenny Garrett (saxophone), Munyungo Jackson (percussion), Lionel Loueke (guitar), and Terri Lynn Carrington (drums).