Herbie Hancock, born in Chicago on April 12, 1940, is one of the most successful jazz musicians of all time. His debut album "Takin' Off" (1961) opened with the hit "Watermelon Man" and paid off twofold, because he also retained the publishing rights. Starting in 1963, Hancock became a member of the new Miles Davis Quintet, which, with Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter and Tony Williams, became one of the eponymous groups of Modern Jazz. Hancock had already gained his first jazz experience in his hometown Chicago – after a Wunderkind phase as a classical pianist – with such greats as Donald Byrd and Coleman Hawkins. Influenced by the harmonic theories of local pianist Chris Anderson and Bill Evans, Hancock developed his own style, combining funky hard bop piano à la Horace Silver with a more open harmonic approach. Based on his recordings with Donald Byrd, one can trace this rapid development. In addition to Hancock's first recordings, we have also selected recordings of his most important musician friends from his early days for this box-set: Freddie Hubbard, Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter, Dexter Gordon, George Coleman, Grant Green, Sonny Rollins, Jackie McLean, Hank Mobley and Lee Morgan and, as a comparison to the later Miles Davis Quintet, Davis' last recordings before Hancock joined the group.
Tracklist
CD 1
■ Donald Byrd with Pepper Adams Quintet - Out of this World
1. Out of this World (Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer) 9.40
2. Curro's (Donald Byrd) 11.52
3. It's a Beautiful Evening (Ray Rasch, Dotty Wayne) 5.22
4. Mr. Lucky Theme (Henry Mancini) 8.10
5. Bird House (Donald Byrd) 10.52
6. Day Dreams (Duke Ellington, John Latouche, Billy Strayhorn) 5.10
Donald Byrd (tp) Pepper Adams (brs) Herbie Hancock (p) Laymon Jackson (b)
Jimmy Cobb (drs) Teddy Charles (vibes: 3)
Recorded in New York City, NY, 1961
Total Time 51.18
CD 2
■ Herbie Hancock - Takin Off
1. Watermelon Man (Herbie Hancock) 7.14
2. Three Bags Full (H. Hancock) 5.31
3. Empty Pockets (H. Hancock) 6.12
4. The Maze (H. Hancock) 6.50
5. Driftin' (H. Hancock) 7.01
6. Alone and I (H. Hancock) 6.30
Herbie Hancock (p) Freddie Hubbard (tp) Dexter Gordon (ts)
Butch Warren (b) Billy Higgins (drs)
Recorded at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on May 28, 1962
■ Freddie Hubbard - Hub-Tones
7. You're My Everything (Harry Warren, Joe Young, Mort Dixon) 6.34
8. Prophet Jennings (Freddie Hubbard) 5.28
9. Hub-Tones (F. Hubbard) 8.21
10. Lament for Booker (F. Hubbard) 9.38
11. For Spee's Sake (F. Hubbard) 8.35
Freddie Hubbard (tp) James Spaulding (as, fl) Herbie Hancock (p)
Reggie Workman (b) Clifford Jarvis (dr)
Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on October 10, 1962
Total Time 78.06
CD 3
■ Donald Byrd - Royal Flush
1. Hush (Donald Byrd) 6.22
2. I'm a Fool to Want You (Frank Sinatra, Jack Wolf, Joel Herron) 6.14
3. Jorgie's (Donald Byrd) 8.05
4. Shangri-La (Donald Byrd) 6.34
5. 6 M's (Donald Byrd) 6.30
6. Requiem (Herbie Hancock) 7.04
Donald Byrd (tp) Pepper Adams (brs) Herbie Hancock (p)
Butch Warren (b) Billy Higgins (drs)
Recorded at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on September 21, 1961
■ Donald Byrd - Free Form
7. Pentecostal Feeling (Donald Byrd) 6.43
8. Night Flower (Herbie Hancock) 6.46
9. Nai Nai (Donald Byrd) 6.36
10. French Spice (Donald Byrd) 8.02
11. Free Form (Donald Byrd) 11.00
Donald Byrd (tp) Wayne Shorter (ts) Herbie Hancock (p)
Butch Warren (b) Billy Higgins (drs)
Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on December 11, 1961
Total Time 79.58
CD 4
■ Al Grey - Snap your Fingers
1. Nothing But the Truth (Billy Bowen) 3.20
2. Three-Fourth Blues (Gene Kee) 5.23
3. Just Waiting" (Melba Liston) 2.57
4. R. B. Q. (Kee) 4.58
5. Green Dolphin Street (Bronisław Kaper, Ned Washington) 4.19
6. Minor on Top (Thad Jones) 6.50
7. African Lady (Randy Weston) 4.30
8. Hi-Fly (R. Weston) 9.23
Al Grey (tb) Billy Mitchell (ts) David Burns (tp: 1–5) Donald Byrd (tp: 6–8)
Bobby Hutcherson (vibes) Herbie Hancock (p: 6–8) Floyd Morris (p: 1–5)
Herman Wright (b) Eddie Williams (drs)
Recorded at Birdland, NYC on January 31, 1962 (6–8) and Ter-Mar Studios, Chicago,
IL on February 19, 1962 (1–5)
■ George Coleman w. Max Roach - Deeds Not Words
9. You Stepped out of a Dream (Nacio Herb Brown, Gus Kahn) 7.48
10. Filid (Ray Draper) 7.08
11. It's You or No One (Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne) 4.15
12. Jodie's Cha-Cha (Bill Lee) 4.58
13. Deeds, Not Words (Lee) 4.36
14. Larry-Larue (Booker Little) 5.13
15. Conversation (Max Roach) 3.51
Max Roach (drs) Booker Little (tp) George Coleman (ts) Ray Draper (tuba) Art Davis (b)
Recorded in New York City on September 4, 1958
Total Time 79.39
CD 5
■ Grant Green - Sunday Mornin
1. Freedom March (Grant Green) 8.45
2. Sunday Mornin' (Green) 4.03
3. Exodus (Ernest Gold) 7.04
4. God Bless the Child (Arthur Herzog Jr., Billie Holiday) 7.24
5. Come Sunrise (Green) 4.34
6. So What (Miles Davis) 9.45
Grant Green (g) Kenny Drew (p) Ben Tucker (b) Ben Dixon (drs)
Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on June 4, 1961
■ Jimmy Heath - The Quota
7. The Quota (Jimmy Heath) 5.07
8. Lowland Lullaby (Jimmy Heath) 4.38
9. Thinking of You (Harry Ruby, Bert Kalmar) 5.07
10. Bells and Horns (Milt Jackson) 4.53
11. Down Shift (Jimmy Heath) 5.46
12. When Sunny Gets Blue (Marvin Fisher, Jack Segal) 6.29
13. Funny Time (Jimmy Heath) 6.23
Jimmy Heath (ts) Freddie Hubbard (tp) Julius Watkins (french horn)
Cedar Walton (p) Percy Heath (b) Albert Heath (drs)
Recorded in New York City on April 14 & 20, 1961
Total Time 79.59
CD 6
■ Miles Davis - Someday my Prince will come
1. Someday My Prince Will Come (Frank E. Churchill, Larry Morey) 9.11
2. Old Folks (Dedette Lee Hill, Willard Robison) 5.20
3. Pfrancing (Miles Davis) 8.38
4. Drad-Dog (Miles Davis) 4.34
5. Teo (Miles Davis) 9.41
6. I Thought About You (Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Mercer) 4.57
Miles Davis (tp) Hank Mobley (ts: 1-4, 6) John Coltrane (ts: 1 & 5)
Wynton Kelly (p) Paul Chambers (b) Jimmy Cobb (drs)
Recorded in NYC on March 7, 20 and 21, 1961
■ Lee Morgan - Candy
7. Candy (Alex J. Kramer, Joan Whitney, Mack David) 7.06
8. Since I Fell for You (Buddy Johnson) 5.39
9. C.T.A. (Jimmy Heath) 5.07
10. All the Way (Sam Cahn, Jimmy Van Heusen) 7.27
11. Who Do You Love I Hope (Irving Berlin) 5.02
12. Personality (Johnny Burke, Jimmy Van Heusen) 6.16
Lee Morgan (tp) Sonny Clark (p) Doug Watkins (b) Art Taylor (dr)
Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, New Jersey on November 18, 1957 (2, 6)
and February 2, 1958 (1, 3-5)
Total Time 79.05
CD 7
■ Dexter Gordon - Doin Allright
1. I Was Doing All Right (George and Ira Gershwin) 9.24
2. You've Changed (Bill Carey, Carl T. Fisher) 7.30
3. For Regulars Only (Dexter Gordon) 5.48
4. Society Red (D. Gordon) 12.25
5. It's You or No One (Jule Styne, Sammy Cahn) 6.18
Dexter Gordon (ts) Freddie Hubbard (tp) Horace Parlan (p)
George Tucker (b) Al Harewood (drs)
Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on May 6, 1961
■ Sonny Rollins - The Sound of Sonny
6. The Last Time I Saw Paris (Oscar Hammerstein II, Jerome Kern) 2.59
7. Just in Time (Betty Comden, Adolph Green, Jule Styne) 3.59
8. Toot, Toot, Tootsie, Goodbye 4.24
(Ernie Erdman, Ted Fio Rito, Gus Kahn, Robert A. King)
9. What Is There to Say? (Vernon Duke, E.Y. "Yip" Harburg) 4.55
10. Dearly Beloved (Jerome Kern, Johnny Mercer) 3.05
11. Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye (Cole Porter) 3.24
12. Cutie (Sonny Rollins, Neal Hefti, Stanley Styne) 5.54
13. It Could Happen to You (Johnny Burke, Jimmy Van Heusen) 3.47
14. Mangoes (Dale Libby, Sid Wayne) 5.34
Sonny Rollins (ts) Sonny Clark (p: 7-11, 13, 14) Paul Chambers (b: 6, 9)
Percy Heath (b: 7, 8, 10, 11,13, 14) Roy Haynes (drs: 6-11, 13, 14)
Recorded at Reeves Sound Studio, New York City on June 11, 12 (tracks 7, 8, 9-11)
and 19 (6, 9), 1957
Total Time 79.30
CD 8
■ Wayne Shorter - Wayning Moments
1. Black Orpheus (Louis Bonf , Antonio Jobim) 4.35
2. Devil's Island (Wayne Shorter) 3.57
3. Moon of Manakoora (Frank Loesser, Alfred Newman) 3.45
4. Dead End (Wayne Shorter) 4.36
5. Wayning Moments (Eddie Higgins) 4.23
6. Powder Keg (Wayne Shorter) 3.14
7. All or Nothing at All (Artzhur Altman, Jack Lawrence) 2.58
8. Callaway Went That-a-Way (Wayne Shorter) 4.53
Wayne Shorter (ts) Freddie Hubbard (tp) Eddie Higgins (p)
Jymie Merritt (b) Marshall Thompson (drs)
Recorded in Chicago on November 2 and 6, 1961
■ Jackie McLean - A long Drink of the Blues
9. A Long Drink of the Blues [Take 1] false start 2.21
10. A Long Drink of the Blues (Jackie McLean) [Take 2] 20.49
11. Embraceable You (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin) 7.08
12. I Cover the Waterfront (Edward Heyman, Johnny Green) 6.28
13. These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You) 8.21
(Harry Link, Holt Marvell, Jack Strachey)
Jackie McLean (as, ts: 9-10) (as: 11-13) Webster Young (tp: 9-10)
Curtis Fuller (tb: 9-10) Gil Coggins (p: 9-10) Mal Waldron (p: 11-13)
Paul Chambers (b: 9-10) Arthur Phipps (b: 11-13)
Louis Hayes (drs: 9-10) Art Taylor (drs: 11-13)
Recorded at Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, New Jersey on August 30, 1957 (9-10)
and February 15, 1957 (11-13) Total Time 77.33
CD 9
■ Hank Mobley - Roll Call
1. Roll Call (Hank Mobley) 10.33
2. My Groove Your Move (Hank Mobley) 6.08
3. Take Your Pick (Hank Mobley) 5.28
4. A Baptist Beat (Hank Mobley) 8.55
5. The More I See You (Harry Warren, Mack Gordon) 6.48
6. The Breakdown (Hank Mobley) 4.56
Hank Mobley (ts) Freddie Hubbard (tp) Wynton Kelly (p)
Paul Chambers (b) Art Blakey (drs)
Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on November 13, 1960
■ Ron Carter w. Eric Dolphy - Out There
7. Out There (Eric Dolphy) 6.54
8. Serene (Dolphy) 6.39
9. The Baron (Dolphy) 2.57
10. Eclipse (Charles Mingus) 2.45
11. 17 West (Dolphy) 4.48
12. Sketch of Melba (Randy Weston) 4.39
13. Feathers (Hale Smith) 5.01
Eric Dolphy (as: 7, 13; b-cl: 8, 9; b flat cl:10; fl: 11, 12) Ron Carter (cello)
George (b) Roy Haynes (drs)
Recorded at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ on August 15, 1960
Total Time 76.45
CD 10
■ Kenny Dorham – Jackie McLean - Inta Something
1. Us (Kenny Dorham) 7.13
2. It Could Happen to You (Johnny Burke, Jimmy Van Heusen) 5.59
3. Let's Face the Music and Dance (Irving Berlin) 6.08
4. No Two People (Frank Loesser) 6.59
5. Lover Man (Jimmy Davis, Ram Ramirez, James Sherman) 5.00
6. San Francisco Beat (Kenny Dorham) 7.16
Kenny Dorham (tp) Jackie McLean (as) Walter Bishop Jr. (p)
Leroy Vinnegar (b) Art Taylor (drs)
Recorded at The Jazz Workshop, San Francisco on November 13, 1961
■ Pepper Adams Quintet - 10 to 4 at the 5 Spot
7. 'Tis (Theme) (Thad Jones) 5.49
8. You're My Thrill (Jay Gorney, Sidney Clare) 5.08
9. The Long Two/Four (Donald Byrd) 10.40
10. Hastings Street Bounce (Pepper Adams) 11.36
11. Yourna (Donald Byrd) 6.43
Pepper Adams (brs) Donald Byrd (tp) Bobby Timmons (p)
Doug Watkins (b) Elvin Jones (drs)
Recorded at the Five Spot Cafe, New York City on April 15, 1958
Total Time 78.34
Details
Genre: Jazz
Set content: 10
EAN: 4053796005922