Jazz icon Herbie Hancock adds the Polar Music Prize to his massive awards tally

Jazz great Herbie Hancock has received virtually every honor in his field: 14 Grammy Awards (along with a Lifetime Achievement Grammy), an Oscar (best score for “Round Midnight”), an NEA Jazz Master designation and the Kennedy Center Honors. Earlier this year, Hancock picked up what many regard as the ultimate award, the Polar Music Prize, which has been dubbed “The Nobel Prize of Music.”

Hancock, a Chicago native, returns to his hometown for an SCP Jazz concert Oct. 26.

At the awards ceremony, held in Stockhom in May, the Polar Music Prize committee described Hancock as a ”jazz scientist who influenced the development of R&B, funk and hip-hop with visionary albums such as ’Head Hunters’ and the hit ’Rockit,’ who has always focused on musical development and finding new ways of moving forward.”

Hancock was one of four laureates honored this year, along with Roger Taylor and Brian May of the British rock band Queen and Canadian soprano-conductor Barbara Hannigan.

Hancock’s versatility was lauded during the ceremony, as his presenter noted: "While growing up Herbie Hancock was influenced by Mozart as much as Oscar Peterson. In college, he studied both electrical engineering and musical composition. As a musician, he united these worlds by making the leap to electric piano and synthesizers. As a composer, he has written timeless standards such as ’Watermelon Man’ and ’Cantaloupe Island,’ and for decades has worked closely with luminaries such as Joni Mitchell and Wayne Shorter."

Founded in 1989 by ABBA manager Stig “Stikkan” Anderson, the Polar Music Prize is considered one of the most prestigious music prizes in the world, crossing over musical boundaries and awarded to individuals, groups and institutions in recognition of exceptional achievements. Past laureates include Joni Mitchell, Angelique Kidjo, Wayne Shorter, Sting, Stevie Wonder and Bob Dylan. The inaugural award was given to Paul McCartney in 1992.