Herbie Hancock
Sunday June 30, 2013 – Queen Elizabeth Theatre
(by kp)
Don’t miss the legend with his crack quartet including Lionel Loueke, James Genus and Jonathan Pinson this Sunday, June 30, 2013 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.
A few words about one of the grand ambassadors in today’s
jazz world. We’re talking about the maestro, the iconic Herbie Hancock – a
musician that has been on the scene for over fifty years and will no doubt go
down as one of the most influential pianists, keyboardists and composers in the
history of jazz. As Miles Davis himself
said, “Herbie was the step after Bud Powell and Thelonious Monk, and I haven’t
heard anybody yet who has come after him.”
This is a man who has been contributing in real time to
almost every major stylistic development in jazz since the 60’s – from soul
jazz, hard bop and post bop acoustic jazz styles to funk, fusion and
electro-jazz. From the early days of Watermelon Man, to Maiden Voyage and many
dates as a leader and sideman for Blue Note, the soundtrack to the mid 60’s
Antonioni film Blow Up, his lengthy tenure with the legendary Miles Davis
Quintet (and ushering in the rock/jazz crossover era in the late 60’s with
Miles - Bitches Brew, In a Silent Way etc), the early 70’s Mwandishi Band,
Rockit, the soundtrack to Round Midnight and beyond - Herbie Hancock has been front and center in the
contemporary jazz world for half a century.
A few more words describing how Herbie Hancock’s music pulled
me into his sphere during my youth. I heard the music of Herbie Hancock for the
first time on that aforementioned album – the soundtrack to the 1966 film “Blow
Up” (Michelangelo Antonioni) and to be honest I was about 15 at the time and
bought the album for the Yardbirds track! It wasn’t long before the cool jazz
on the soundtrack began to seep into my consciousness – although not Herbie’s
finest work there are many memorable moments – the title track Blow Up is a
great piece of music, probably best captured in a burning version on a Blue
Note album by Bobby Hutcherson “Oblique” with Herbie, Albert Stinson (b) and
Joe Chambers (drums).
It wasn’t long before I encountered the Miles Davis Quintet
(formed in 1963 and considered to be his second great quintet) and a string of
incredible albums that went a long ways towards cementing my burgeoning
interest in this recently discovered art form – starting with Miles Smiles and
moving to Miles in the Sky, Nefertiti, The Sorcerer and the rest of his
catalogue. The rhythm section was the constant in this band and Herbie Hancock
filled the role of pianist of choice for Miles – along with Ron Carter and Tony
Williams, only the saxophone chair wasn’t fixed until Wayne Shorter joined the
band.
By the early 70’s Herbie had formed the Mwandishi Band, an
incredible group that walked the line between more or less straight ahead
burning acoustic jazz and the new electro funk fusion that was gaining traction
in the period. A sextet with Herbie, Buster Williams and Billy Hart in the
rhythm section and a front line of Julian Priester (trombone), Eddie Henderson
(trumpet) and Benny Maupin (saxophones) Mwandishi was a force in live
performance. I was fortunate to hear them for a couple of nights in Vancouver
at the Cellar – at the time a very hip jazz club on Watson Street just off of
Main. Electrifying. I've included a live clip in the faves listing.
Many scribes have written about their favourite Herbie
Hancock albums, tunes, performances – read what
Ted Gioia and
Francois Marchand have to say.
Of course it wouldn’t be any fun if I didn’t give a quick overview of
some of my Herbie Hancock faves over the years, so have a
look and listen and see what you think.
1964's Empyrean Isles is the 4th album by Herbie and is undeniably one of the strongest examples of not only his work but of the entirety of the 60's Blue Note catalogue. With the Miles rhythm section fronted by Freddie Hubbard as sole horn (trumpet) this disc has great tunes and some fiery playing. Check out
The Egg.
Following on Empyrean Isles heels is the landmark Herbie album Maiden Voyage. This one turned on a legion of new HH fans - adding tenor saxophonist George Coleman to the front line with Freddie Hubbard to give us a classic quintet format. Maiden Voyage became a modern jazz classic as did Dolphin Dance (heard at sessions everywhere for the past 40 years or more), but my taste runs a little more to
Eye of the Hurricane.
The classic
Herbie Hancock soundtrack to the 1966 film Blow Up (Michaelangelo Antonioni).
Here's the real deal - my favourite version of Herbie's great tune
Blow Up performed by a fantastic Bobby Hutcherson Quartet with the composer at the piano. Burning!
My favourite
Herbie Hancock album has got to be “The Prisoner” his 7
th
and last for that label (1969) – a social statement in music and a great showcase for
his gorgeous writing with an expanded instrumentation that offers more colours
than the typical small group jazz combo. A gem. Check out
I Have a Dream.
filmed at the Molde Festival (1971) in Norway that gives us a bit of the flavour of the live experience.
Finally - the Head Hunters - the 1973 Herbie album that set off a whole new take on the fusion era and spawned decades of imitators. Check the funky
Sly.
Opportunities to hear Herbie Hancock live in Vancouver are rare and this occasion being only the second time in 28 years that he’s performed for Coastal Jazz. So even if you caught him in 2008 (the year he won the Grammy for The River) that was five long years ago.
(submitted by: Ken Pickering)
