Tag Archives: Herbie Hancock

Listening Room – “Moon Germs”

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This 1973 release by Joe Farrell on CTI was his attempt to throw his hat into the ring of electric jazz and he made quite a statement when he did.  Joined by Herbie Hancock, Stanley Clarke and Jack DeJohnette, “Moon Germs” finds Farrell leading the talented group on three Chick Corea penned tracks and one written by Clarke (Bass Folk Song).  The music is angular and (for the time) very adventurous.  While CTI is often maligned for Creed Taylor’s use of “big” production, “Moon Germs” has none of that and the record is a great example of early jazz fusion at its best.

Moon Germs
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Released 1973  :  CTI Records  :  Catalog # 6023

Players:
Joe Farrell – Soprano Sax, Flute
Herbie Hancock – Piano
Stanley Clarke – Bass
Jack DeJohnette – Drums

Joe Farrell – Great Gorge from “Moon Germs”

Joe Farrell – Bass Folk Song from “Moon Germs”

Listening Room – “Oblique”

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The great vibes virtuoso Bobby Hutcherson, one of my personal favorite jazz players, recorded “Oblique” in 1967 but the album was not released until 1980.  While this was not unusual for Alfred Lion to do with Blue Note recording sessions, this record was particularly welcome upon its release as it is stands as an equal to all the great albums Hutcherson released on Blue Note in the 1960′s.  This was his second quartet recording and shares Herbie Hancock and Joe Chambers from the first (“Happenings”), but this time he adds Albert Stinson on bass.  The music is complex post-bop jazz and is worth checking out for anyone interested in sophisticated forward thinking music.

Oblique
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Released 1980 (Originally Recorded 1967)  :  Blue Note Records  :  Catalog # CDP 7 84444-2

Players:
Bobby Hutcherson – Vibes
Herbie Hancock – Piano
Albert Stinson – Bass
Joe Chambers – Drums

Bobby Hutcherson – Oblique from “Oblique”

Bobby Hutcherson – Theme From Blow-Up from “Oblique”

Listening Room – “Straight Life”

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Released in 1970, “Straight Life” came out in between the more well known Hubbard albums “Red Clay” and “First Light”.  While I will always be partial to “Red Clay” for personal reasons (it is one of the first jazz albums I ever bought), “Straight Life” may be Hubbard’s greatest CTI recording.  The all-star group (Joe Henderson, Herbie Hancock, George Benson, Ron Carter and Jack DeJohnette) were all very familiar with each other by this point in their careers and play off each other with ease.   All are on the same page playing the post-bop fusion selections that Hubbard chose for these sessions including his own classic compostition, the title track Straight Life.

Straight Life
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Released 1970  :  CTI Records  :  Catalog # 6007

Players:
Freddie Hubbard – Trumpet
Joe Henderson – Tenor Sax
Herbie Hancock – Piano
George Benson – Guitar
Ron Carter – Bass
Jack DeJohnette – Drums

Freddie Hubbard – Straight Life from “Straight Life”

Freddie Hubbard – Mr. Clean from “Straight Life”

Listening Room – “Power To The People”

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Power To The People

Joe Henderson – Afro-Centric

Joe Henderson – Power To The People

This 1969 release by Joe Henderson on Milestone Records is a fantastic example of early jazz fusion.  Featuring some of the top progressive players of the era, including Ron Carter, Herbie Hancock, Jack DeJohnette and of course Joe Henderson, “Power To The People” stands up with the best fusion albums that Hancock and Miles Davis produced during this creative period in jazz.

Players:
Joe Henderson – Tenor Sax
Mike Lawrence – Trumpet
Herbie Hancock – Piano, Fender Rhodes
Ron Carter – Bass
Jack DeJohnette – Drums