The 1977 Tour 

I know very little about this tour, apart from a few recorded shows which have surfaced from early 1977.  One show was always listed as California, later was discovered to be from the Ivanhoe Theatre in Chicago.  During another recording Herbie Hancock says "Thank you Atlanta".  Rather than  Atlanta, GA, this is likely from Atlanta, IL, which is 60 miles from Champaign, IL, the location of another show.  Any information on this tour would be greatly appreciated.

Typical Set List

1. Hang Up Your Hangups

22. Gentle Thoughts

3. It Remains to be Seen

4. Portrait of  Tracy

5. Maiden Voyage

6. Chameleon

 Encore 

7. People Music, or Kuru

Dates and Venues

December 30, 1976 - The Paramount Theater, Portland, OR

Unknown - The Spokane Opera House, Spokane, WA

February 16, 1977 - The Ivanhoe Theatre, Chicago, IL

February 21, 1977 - Western Michigan University's Miller Auditorium, Kalamazoo, MI

February 24. 1977 (Could be February 20) - Champaign, IL

Unknown, 1977 - Atlanta (IL or GA)

Excerpt from Kalamazoo Gazette, February 22, 1977

Blues-Jazz guitarist George Benson brought his now Grammy Award winning talents to Kalamazoo for a concert at Miller Auditorium last night.  Just two days after receiving three of the coveted Grammys and four days after the last ticket was sold, Benson split a twin bill with Herbie Hancock.

Hancock's set - although a little slow in picking up momentum - was an excellent leadoff for Benson.  Oddly enough, Hancock has chosen his music and arranged it so that he leaves very little of the spotlight for himself.  Bassist Jaco Pastorius, formerly of Weather Report, was the first player to be introduced and seemed to be the highlight of the band.  Hancock did a few solo things on the keyboards, but mostly worked within a tightly meshed band.