5 Things to Know About Herbie Hancock's Album of the Year Win in 2008

Herbie Hancock’s “River: The Joni Letters” won Album of the Year at the 2008 Grammys. It was a tribute album honoring Joni Mitchell.

The win was a major upset. It beat out strong contenders like Kanye West’s “Graduation” and Amy Winehouse’s “Back to Black.”

It was the first jazz album to win Album of the Year in over 40 years. The last was Stan Getz and João Gilberto’s “Getz/Gilberto” in 1965.

The album features guest vocalists like Norah Jones and Tina Turner. Each performs a different Joni Mitchell song.

Hancock himself played piano and led the arrangements. The album is a respectful, instrumental-heavy reinterpretation of Mitchell’s work.