orig. Herbert Jeffrey Hancock
born April 12, 1940, Chicago, Ill., U.S.
U.S. pianist, composer, and bandleader.
He was educated at Grinnell College. Part of the superb rhythm section of Miles Davis 's mid-1960s group, he led the group after Davis left. In the 1970s he became involved in funk music, and later disco, while continuing to tour with jazz groups, including that of Wynton Marsalis . In 1986 he acted in and scored 'Round Midnight (1986, Academy Award). His later career was notably diverse.