Herbert Jeffrey Hancock (born April 12, 1940) is a jazz pianist and composer from Chicago, Illinois, United States. Hancock is one of jazz music's most important and influential pianists and composers. He embraced elements of rock, funk, and soul while adopting freer stylistic elements from jazz.

As part of Miles Davis' "second great quintet" Hancock helped redefine the role of a jazz rhythm section, and was later one of the first jazz musicians to embrace synthesizers and jazz funk. Yet for all his restless experimentation, Hancock's music is often melodic and accessible; he has had many songs "crossover" and achieve success among pop audiences.

Probably the most influential era in Herbie Hancock's extensive career is with the "Headhunters" ensemble during the mid-late 70's, including (among others) Paul Jackson on bass, Bennie Maupin on saxophones, Harvey Mason on drums, "Wah Wah" Watson on guitar and Bill Summers on percussion.

His 2007 tribute album, River: The Joni Letters won the 2008 Grammy Award for Album of the Year.