Herbie Hancock

2-LP SET

4 STARS ALL MUSIC GUIDE

PERSONNEL:

HERBIE HANCOCK, keyboards
BENNIE MAUPIN, sax, clarinete, flute, percussion
BLACKBIRD McKNIGHT, guitar
PAUL JACKSON, bass
MIKE CLARK, drums
BILL SUMMER, conga, percussion

Recorded at Shibuja Kohkaido and Nakano Sun Plaza, Tokyo, June and July 1975.

DISC ONE:

SIDE A:
01. Introduction & Maiden Voyage
02. Actual Proof

SIDE B:
01. pank-A-Lee
02. Watermelon Man

DISC TWO:

SIDE C:
01. Butterfly
02. Chameleon

SIDE D:
01. Hang Up Your Hang Ups

In the summer of 1975, the Herbie Hancock Sextet made a hugely successful tour of Japan, which made people aware of a 'new' Hancock. The last LP that the keyboard virtuoso had recorded, "Thrust", was already one year old, and the film music for the Charles Bronson classic "Death Wish" was received negatively by his fans. At his concerts in Tokyo, Herbie Hancock reached back to his hits: "Maiden Voyage", "Chameleon", and the famous, soulful "Watermelon Man" made the fans at his concert hall and open-air appearances go wild with enthusiasm. Forty years later I have the courage to confess that I couldn’t have cared less about this music at the time; in Europe there was enough that was new and exciting to see and listen to. However, this re-release in its original format has given me the opportunity to check out whether this music has withstood the test of time. And I must say: it has passed the test! Just listen to Herbie at his best! - Dr. Michael Frohne