Bassist James Genus Reflects on the Magic of Touring with Herbie Hancock
Fans will get another chance to see jazz legend Herbie Hancock in person this fall as the acclaimed pianist has announced a North American tour. The run will follow a European outing and will focus on the Midwest and East Coast in October and November.
The tour begins October 16th in Urbana, Illinois, at the Tryon Festival Theatre before covering Ohio, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan, and Tennessee. They’ll then jump to Boston, Massachusetts, on October 29th and head down the coast before cutting back into the countryside. The final U.S. date is scheduled for November 5th in Louisville, Kentucky.
Hancock’s band for this run will include trumpeter Terence Blanchard, guitarist Lionel Loueke, drummer Jaylen Petinaud, and bassist James Genus.
Genus, known in part as the house bassist for Saturday Night Live, has had a storied career. He’s performed with Thelonious Monk, The Brecker Brothers, Benny Golson, Daft Punk, and more. However, playing with Hancock is still something special for him.
Check out this chat with Jared Faber in which Genus explains the magic of it.
Herbie Hancock 2025 Tour Dates:
| Date | Location | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 16 | Urbana, IL | Tryon Festival Theatre |
| Oct 17 | Cincinnati, OH | Taft Theatre |
| Oct 18 | Germantown, TN | Germantown Performing Arts Center |
| Oct 21 | Milwaukee, WI | The Pabst Theater |
| Oct 22 | Minneapolis, MN | Orpheum Theatre |
| Oct 24 | Rockford, IL | Hard Rock Live |
| Oct 16 | Urbana, IL | Tryon Festival Theatre |
| Oct 17 | Cincinnati, OH | Taft Theatre |
| Oct 18 | Germantown, TN | Germantown Performing Arts Center |
| Oct 21 | Milwaukee, WI | The Pabst Theater |
| Oct 22 | Minneapolis, MN | Orpheum Theatre |
| Oct 24 | Rockford, IL | Hard Rock Live at Hard Rock Casino Rockford |
| Oct 25 | Ann Arbor, MI | University of Michigan - Hill Auditorium |
| Oct 26 | Chicago, IL | Venue TBA |
| Oct 29 | Boston, MA | Boch Center - Wang Theatre |
| Oct 30 | Englewood, NJ | Bergen Performing Arts Center |
| Nov 1 | North Bethesda, MD | Music Center at Strathmore |
| Nov 2 | Buffalo, NY | University at Buffalo Center for the Arts |
| Nov 4 | Cleveland, OH | Severance Hall |
| Nov 5 | Louisville, KY | The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts - Whitney Hall |
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.
