AKA an excuse to dig out a nice old playlist, and listen to some 60s Blue Note favourites (plus a gorgeous odd one out on Columbia).
1. Miles Davis - Circle (Davis) (from the album ‘Miles Smiles’) Davis (t); Wayne Shorter (ts); Herbie Hancock (p); Ron Carter (b); Tony Williams (d). 10/66. Columbia.
A slow opener from Davis’ 60s quintet. This line-up guaranteed searching virtuoso playing, as well as a steady stream of new music, courtesy of Shorter and Hancock.
2. Herbie Hancock – Toys (Hancock) (from the album ‘Speak Like A Child’) Hancock (p); Thad Jones (flugelhorn); Jerry Dodgion (alto fl); Peter Phillips (bass tbn); Ron Carter (b); Mickey Roker (d). 3/68. Blue Note.
Speak Like A Child is a feast of great piano solos - the horns are there to play the heads and add colour. Roker and Carter are superb throughout.
3. Wayne Shorter – Adam’s Apple (Shorter) (from the album ‘Adam’s Apple’) Shorter (ts); Herbie Hancock (p); Reggie Workman (b); Joe Chambers (d). 2/66. Blue Note.
In addition to being one of the great jazz composers and soloists, Hancock has always been one of the great accompanists - exquisite touch and taste.
4. Herbie Hancock – Cantaloupe Island (Hancock) (from the album ‘Empyrean Isles’) Hancock (p); Freddie Hubbard (cornet); Ron Carter (b); Tony Williams (d). 6/64. Blue Note.
A greatest hit. Introduced to many non-jazz fans by US3’s 1992 version (‘Cantaloop’). The original is superior IMHO: better tempo, better feel, and a great Freddie Hubbard solo.
5. Lee Morgan – Mr. Kenyatta (Morgan) (from the album ‘Search For The New Land’) Morgan (t); Wayne Shorter (ts); Herbie Hancock (p); Grant Green (g); Reggie Workman (b); Billy Higgins (d). 2/64. Blue Note.
A proper piece of head-nodding, face-scrunching soulful jazz by a group of 60s Blue Note all-stars. Billy Higgins doesn't let anyone rest, and there are four good solos, especially from a snaky Lee Morgan - blowing hard, straining for more - and from Wayne Shorter at his bluff best.
6. Kenny Dorham – Una Mas (One More Time) (Dorham) (from the album ‘Una Mas’) Dorham (t); Joe Henderson (ts); Herbie Hancock (p); Butch Warren (d); Tony Williams (d). 4/63. Blue Note.
A 15 minute Blue Note Latin jam. Kenny Dorham belonged to the previous jazz generation, but, like Miles Davis, he seemed to relish the challenge of playing with the up-and-coming stars - this was Joe Henderson’s first official recording date. Hancock would have been 23, Tony Williams just 17.
7. Lee Morgan - If I Were A Carpenter (Hardin) (from the album 'Standards') Morgan (t); James Spaulding (as); Wayne Shorter (ts); Pepper Adams (bs); Herbie Hancock (p); Ron Carter (b); Mickey Roker (d). 1/67. Blue Note.
This album was recorded in 1967, but not released until the late 90s. With its mix of pop and show tunes, and relatively restrained solos, it was conceived as a sort of 'Beginner's Guide To Lee Morgan.' After the commercial success of 'The Sidewinder,' Morgan was obliged to include a similarly funky, catchy tune on every subsequent album. This version of a song made popular by Bobby Darrin does the job on 'Standards.'
8. Donald Byrd Band & Voices - Chant (Pearson) (from the album 'A New Perspective') Byrd (t); Hank Mobley (ts); Donald Best (vib); Kenny Burrell (g); Herbie Hancock (p); Butch Warren (b); Lex Humphries (d); Voices directed by Coleridge Parkinson, arr. Duke Pearson. 11/63. Blue Note.
This jazz/gospel Donald Byrd track is worth playing for Hancock’s contribution alone. After easy-going solos by Byrd, Mobley and Burrell, he turns in a harmonically adventurous mini-masterpiece.
9. Bobby Hutcherson - Bouquet (Hutcherson) (from the album ‘Happenings’) Hutcherson (vib); Herbie Hancock (p); Bob Cranshaw (b); Joe Chambers (d). 2/66. Blue Note.
Two masterful solos over a well-chosen sequence of chords. As beautiful as 'Flamenco Sketches' from 'Kind Of Blue,' to which it clearly owes a debt. That and Satie's Gymnopédies.
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