From January 14–25, jazz greats Herbie Hancock and Dianne Reeves will be in New Delhi and Mumbai with the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance at UCLA Ensemble. They will be honoring the life and work of Martin Luther King Jr. through their performances and master classes with kids. An important part of their trip will be a concert in New Delhi on January 15, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, according to a news release from the US Embassy in India.
In the United States, Martin Luther King Jr. Day is celebrated every year on the third Monday of January to honor his life and work as a civil rights leader. This government holiday is a sobering reminder of how important King was to the American civil rights movement. He fought for racial equality, justice, and unity. Mahatma Gandhi’s ideas about nonviolent resistance, which he came up with during India’s fight for freedom, had a huge impact on Martin Luther King Jr.’s life. This had a big impact on the plans and personalities of the people involved in the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. King’s trip to India in 1959 made him even more aware of the power of peaceful resistance to bring about social change. Martin Luther King Jr. and India have more in common than a desire for pacifism. They both understood that movements for justice and human rights happen all over the world. According to a press statement from the US Embassy in India, their ideas show how battles against oppression around the world are linked.
Ambassador Eric Garcetti said in the release, “On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, let’s honor the lasting impact of Mahatma Gandhi’s principles, which continue to inspire the pursuit of justice and equality.” This was meant to show how important the day was. Martin Luther King Jr. fought for the same basic values that Mahatma Gandhi did: deep respect for the inherent dignity of every person, regardless of background, caste, religion, or social standing. In our ongoing work to make society more fair and just, their common example supports the idea that everyone should be treated with respect. I’ve always liked Herbie Hancock and Dianne Reeves, and I’m excited for them to talk about how the unity that Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King wanted is still relevant today. This will inspire us all to work toward a world where everyone is treated fairly and with respect.
In the press statement, Herbie Hancock said, “It was an honor to visit India 15 years ago to mark the 50th anniversary of King’s historic visit.” I can’t wait to go back to India a fourth time to play for crowds and work with young artists who want to make it big. King stood for freedom, democracy, and equality, and jazz really shows what those ideas mean. It will be a pleasure to share these values with the wonderful people and musicians of India again.
To build stronger links between artists and people in the US and India, Herbie Hancock, Dianne Reeves, and the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance at UCLA Ensemble will teach and perform in New Delhi and Mumbai. Indian artists with a lot of fame, like Sitar Maestro Purbayan Chatterjee and Tabla player Swarupa Ananth-Sawkar, will also be performing in Mumbai.
