Vinnie Colaiuta at the Hollywood Bowl

On this past August 19th, the legendary Hollywood Bowl was the scene of a once-in-a-lifetime event. The occasion was a celebration of jazz icon Miles Davis’ 100th birthday, and it brought together a lineup of current jazz luminaries to perform as part of that celebration. And anchoring those performances was none other than great Gretsch drummer Vinnie Colaiuta!

Performing at The Hollywood Bowl’s star-studded concert on August 19, 2026—titled “Herbie Hancock Celebrates Miles Davis”—were jazz titans (from left) Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Sonny Garrett, and Terence Blanchard…all supported by Great Gretsch Drummer Vinnie Colaiuta. Photo courtesy of Nathan East.

The concert was organized by stellar jazz keyboardist Herbie Hancock—and, in fact, was titled “Herbie Hancock Celebrates Miles Davis.” In addition to marking Miles’s birthday, the concert’s location and date had a sentimental significance, because it fell close to the anniversary of the trumpeter’s final live performance, which took place at the Hollywood Bowl on August 25, 1991.

Vinnie himself described the event, saying, “The concert had two separate segments. Well, three actually, but the last two were woven together rather tightly. My involvement was in those last two, and it came about because I was asked to participate by Mr. Hancock. Needless to say, it was a monumental experience for me.

“The first segment was a big band conducted by Vince Mendoza, with trumpeter Terence Blanchard out front standing in for Miles, and Joe LaBarbera playing drums. They played a compilation of Gil Evans music reflective of Gil’s orchestral collaboration with Miles.

“The last two segments were an acoustic set and an electric set,” Vinnie continues.  “I played both of those. The acoustic set was led by Herbie Hancock, and also featured bassist Ron Carter—both of whom were alumni of Miles Davis’s Second Great Quintet in the 1960s. Playing with them were Terence Blanchard and saxophonist Kenny Garrett. Kenny had played in Miles’s final touring lineup. The electric set was Herbie again, along with bassist Marcus Miller—who played with Miles during his electric/fusion period—keyboardist Julian Pollack, Kenny Garrett, and Terence Blanchard.  Between those two groups, we covered a wide gamut of Miles’s material to celebrate him.”

It’s worth noting that Gretsch was heavily represented in this event, since Joe LaBarbera and Vinnie are both Gretsch artists.

Peter Larsen, music reviewer for the Orange County Register, offered this commentary about the Miles Davis centennial celebration on the day after the concert:

“As Ron Carter plucked the opening melody of ‘So What’ on the double bass at the Hollywood Bowl on Wednesday, August 19, the crowd cheered in recognition of one of Miles Davis’s signature tunes. Pianist Herbie Hancock, saxophonist Kenny Garrett, and trumpeter Terence Blanchard answered Carter’s melody with the two-note response that inspired the song’s name, as drummer Vinnie Colaiuta kept a steady swing groove on the ride cymbal, snare, and bass drum. If you closed your eyes, you might remember the first time you ever heard this opening track to Davis’s 1959 album Kind of Blue, or maybe, if you were old enough and lucky enough, a time you heard Davis play it live himself.

“Hancock, 86, was a member of Davis’s Second Great Quintet in the ’60s, with Carter, 89, the other surviving member of that band. Blanchard, Garrett, and Colaiuta filled in for the late Davis, Wayne Shorter, and Tony Williams, respectively.”

It’s significant that Herbie Hancock tapped Vinnie to “fill in” for Tony Williams. Most drummers would be daunted by that challenge. But Vinnie—who often referred to Tony as an idol and influence—accepted that challenge and rose to it with flying colors.

Vinnie’s own feelings on the day after the concert were reflected in the following  Facebook post:

“Last night, August 19, 2026, at the Hollywood Bowl, was the culmination of everything I’ve valued and aspired to as an instrumental musician. It was the realization of the creative force in full effect, and I was directly immersed in it kinetically. I’ve waited my entire musical life and career to share the stage with my heroes—legends that changed the face of music. To pay homage to the legacy of Miles Davis with those who were changing music with him was such a defining moment for me, for which I will always be grateful and hold in my heart. Thanks to Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Terence Blanchard, Kenny Garrett, Marcus Miller, and Julian Pollack.”

Vinnie’s post received hundreds of congratulatory comments from fans all over the world. Universally regarded as the top studio and touring drummer of the past five decades, Vinnie had in recent months stepped away from live performing, due to health issues. Drummers and drumming fans alike were thrilled to see him back in action—especially in such a prominent and historic setting.