Herbie Hancock - Maiden Voyage (1965/2012) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]

GRAMMY Award-winning artist and music icon Herbie Hancock unleashed a monumental work in 1965 with Maiden Voyage. The captivating concept album displayed his intuitive talents as a pianist, composer and innovator. The release was a ground-breaking demonstration of lyrical jazz blended with riveting hard bop. This star-studded affair includes music legends Freddie Hubbard, George Coleman, Ron Carter and Anthony Williams. Influenced by his experience with the Miles Davis Quintet, the album featured provocative solos, tonal textures and rich harmonies. Included on the album are the now standards, “Maiden Voyage,” “The Eye of the Hurricane,” and “Dolphin Dance.” In 1999, the album was inducted into the GRAMMY Hall of Fame.

Less overtly adventurous than its predecessor, Empyrean Isles, Maiden Voyage nevertheless finds Herbie Hancock at a creative peak. In fact, it's arguably his finest record of the '60s, reaching a perfect balance between accessible, lyrical jazz and chance-taking hard bop. By this point, the pianist had been with Miles Davis for two years, and it's clear that Miles' subdued yet challenging modal experiments had been fully integrated by Hancock. Not only that, but through Davis, Hancock became part of the exceptional rhythm section of bassist Ron Carter and drummer Tony Williams, who are both featured on Maiden Voyage, along with trumpeter Freddie Hubbard and tenor saxophonist George Coleman. The quintet plays a selection of five Hancock originals, many of which are simply superb showcases for the group's provocative, unpredictable solos, tonal textures, and harmonies. While the quintet takes risks, the music is lovely and accessible, thanks to Hancock's understated, melodic compositions and the tasteful group interplay. All of the elements blend together to make Maiden Voyage a shimmering, beautiful album that captures Hancock at his finest as a leader, soloist, and composer.

Tracklist:

01 - Maiden Voyage
02 - The Eye of the Hurricane
03 - Little One
04 - Survival of the Fittest
05 - Dolphin Dance

Produced by Alfred Lion. Engineered by Rudy Van Gelder.
Recorded on March 17, 1965 at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ.
High Resolution Mastering by Alan Yoshida and Robin Lynn at Blanche DuBois, April 2012.

Musicians:
Herbie Hancock - piano
Freddie Hubbard - trumpet
George Coleman - tenor saxophone
Ron Carter - bass
Tony Williams - drums

About the Mastering:
"In preparing these hi def remasters, we were very conscientious about maintaining the feel of the original releases while adding a previously unattainable transparency and depth. It now sounds like you've set up your chaise lounge right in the middle of Rudy Van Gelder's studio!"
– Blue Note President, Don Was.

Thanks to the Original customer!