With the formation of his great electric sextet, Herbie Hancock's music
took off into outer and inner space, starting with this landmark album
(available on CD in the Mwandishi double set) recorded in a single session
on New Year's Eve. Ever the gadgeteer, Herbie plays with electronic effects
devices -- reverb units, stereo tremelo, and Echoplex -- which all lead
his music into spacier, open-ended directions very much influenced by
Miles Davis' electric experiments, rendering it from post-bop conventions.
There are just three tracks: the insistent 15/4-meter Afro-electric-funk
workout "Ostinato (Suite For Angela)," the inquisitive "You'll
Know When You Get There" with its ethereal Hancock voicings, and
trombonist Julian Priester's "Silent Way"-influenced "Wandering
Spirit Song" which eventually dips into tumultuous freeform. Eddie
Henderson emerges as a major trumpet soloist here, probing, jabbing, soliloquizing;
Bennie Maupin comes over from Lee Morgan's group to add his ominous bass
clarinet and thoughtful alto flute; and Buster Williams' bass and Billy
Hart's flexible drums propel the rhythm section. Santana's Jose "Chepito"
Areas and Leon "Ndugu" Chancler also add funky percussive reinforcement
to "Ostinato," along with guitarist Ron Montrose. The group's
collective empathy is remarkable, and Hancock had only begun to probe
the outer limits with this extraordinary music.
(by Richard S. Ginell, All
Music Guide)
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