Description
Originally released in 1962, Takin Off introduced Herbie Hancock as a bandleader with a debut that feels both sharp and easy to sink into. Theres a clear thread back to Horace Silvers hard bop, but Hancock already sounds like his own player here: lighter on his feet, more probing in the harmony, and full of ideas that reach beyond the session. The best-known moment is Watermelon Man, a tune that quickly took on a life of its own and became a jazz standard after Mongo Santamarias hit cover. Elsewhere, Alone and I brings a more introspective mood, The Maze leans into a minor-key tension, and Empty Pockets delivers the blues. With a lineup featuring Freddie Hubbard, Dexter Gordon, Butch Warren, and Billy Higgins, Takin Off is a brilliant first statement from Herbie Hancock and the starting point for everything that followed in his remarkable run through jazz.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.