U.S. Embassy celebrates Jordanian and American cultural heritage at Amman’s Odeon Theatre with jazz legend Herbie Hancock, the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz,
and guest Don Braden
[Amman May 14, 2022] Jazz legend Herbie Hancock, the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Ensemble at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), and guest Don Braden concluded a five-day tour of musical performances and workshops across Jordan with a historic concert at Amman’s Odeon Theatre. Attendees included His Excellency Secretary General of the Ministry of Tourism, Dr. Emad Hijazeen, dignitaries from various embassies, members of the arts and music community, and U.S. Embassy partners and guests. Today’s performance at the Odeon Theatre brings together Jordanian and American cultural heritage and illustrates intercultural exchange at its best.
The band has spent the last week touring Jordan—not just performing, but also conducting people-to-people outreach and educational workshops with diverse populations in Amman, Jerash, and Um Qais. Engagements included a workshop for students and teachers with the University of Jordan Music Department, a jazz masterclass with the National Center for the Culture and Arts and National Music Conservatory, a workshop with the Princess Taghreed Institute in Jerash for Jordanian youth and Syrian refugees, and a performance at the Um Qais archeological site.
Embassy Public Affairs Counselor Stefanie Altman-Winans thanked the Department of Antiquities, the University of Jordan, the National Center for Culture and Arts, Turquoise Mountain, Beit Khayrat Souf, Princess Taghreed Institute, and all of the participants and audiences at each site for making this unique program possible. The program was sponsored by the Arts Envoy Program of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), and air transportation for the tour was provided by United Airlines, the official airline of the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz.
