HERBIE HANCOCK
Maiden Voyage (Blue Note)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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With Hancock, George Coleman (tenor sax), Ron Carter (bass) and Tony Williams (drums) aboard, the crew of Maiden Voyage included 4/5 of the 1963-64 lineup of the Miles Davis Quintet. With the trumpet chair occupied by Freddie Hubbard, Hancock was at the helm of his own all-star quintet. The resulting album stands as a cornerstone of Hancock's career, and is on the short list of essential albums in modern jazz.

Maiden Voyage is simply a masterpiece. Two of the five tracks, the title cut and "Dolphin Dance," have become widely covered jazz standards, and the other three are every bit as fine, if not as famous. All are Hancock originals, but each is decorated by the distinctive individual interpretations of the assembled players. This is some of the finest work that Hubbard and Coleman ever recorded as sidemen, and Williams plays the top of the kit with a level of sensitivity and style that is best described as awesome. You simply must own a copy of Maiden Voyage.

Since you need a copy of this album anyway, it's particularly fitting that Blue Note has included it in the Rudy Van Gelder Collection series of reissues. Re-engineered using 24 bit resolution, the legendary engineer himself has taken full advantage of modern digital technology to give the music its finest presentation. If you don't own a copy of the album, there's simply no excuse. If you've got a copy or two in a format or two, you should still consider this archive quality edition.

Track List: Maiden Voyage * The Eye Of The Hurricane * Little One * Survival Of The Fittest * Dolphin Dance

© 1999 - Shaun Dale