Track Listing

1. Stable Mates
2. Dolphin Dance
3. Slight Smile
4. That Old Black Magic
5. Maison Goree - Herbie Hancock Trio

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #232629 in Music
• Released on: 1996-12-12
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Import, Original recording remastered
• Dimensions: .21 pounds

Album Description
Japanese pressing of 1981 album featuring Ron Carter & Tony Williams to make the trio. Sony.

Customer Reviews

Fantastic Trio Recording
I must agree with another reviwer who called this a hidden gem. As a fan of acoustic Herbie, I had been searching for some time for a trio recording with Carter and Williams. No one should doubt the sheer intensity of recordings such as MAIDEN VOYAGE and EMPYREAN ISLES, but if you're searching for a pleasant divergence from Freddie Hubbard or George Coleman, then you've come to the right place.

The most startling difference between this and past Herbie records is the magnificent bass sound. It sounds as if the studio engineers by 1981 had figured out how to properly mic an acoustic bass with little to no 'clunkiness'. What you get instead is an acoustic bass sound as smooth as you're ever going to hear. The highlight of this recording is the Hancock original, 'Dolphin Dance,' which grows from its soft, elegant melody into an absolute barn burner. 'A Slight Smile' is a nice deviation with a foot in the classical realm. All five tracks are superb, and well worth the price of this import. It will be a vital piece of your Herbie collection.

Hidden Gem
This is a Herbie record that few people know about, because it's a Japanese import. Every jazz musicain should have this recording. The trio is on fire. You even get to hear some clunky Ron Carter bass solos, that admittedly, will grow on you after time. Some great arrangements of old standards, and a couple of originals, make up an album of superb playing on all parts, and a definite must have. You'll listen to this one over and over again.

BLUE LIGHT SPECIAL COURTESY OF MR. HANDS AND HIS TRIO
I was just listening to this album while I was driving my mother back from the grocery store. We were having a small and jovial debate as to how good this album was. My mom doesn't have a high regard for this type of jazz because she finds Herbie's piano playing to be too busy to catch on to. In defense, I said that this is not the type of jazz for casual fans because this is not quite the casual jazz album.

This rare gem from Herbie Hancock Trio is what you would call thinking man's music. Like much of the music from this genre, it sacrifices melody for instrumental prowess. You have to pay close attention to the playing to understand what's going on. Naturally, this wouldn't play well with my mother since she love her jazz simple and melodic (which isn't bad).

For any fan who wants to hear Herbie's acoustic side with him being the dominate factor, this album is for you along with "The Piano" and the white and beige album from '77. Of all the albums I have from Mr. Hands, this is one of the few albums where I can hear his coloful textures without him sharing the spotlight with any of his band members. Even if the music works within the same premise as free bop, the Trio gives it an intriuging spin. Herbie's piano playing accompanied by Ron Carter's subdued bass vamps and Tony Williams controlled precision gives these Bop standards a cocktail jazz type of feel. They're able to create a atmosphere of elegant people chillin' at a jazz club in a downtown metro city. So while the music uses a old blueprint, the vibe they're able to create makes the music sound contemporary (especially since the Sax and Trumpet are absent throughout the recording). Since the album is consistently excellent, there's no standouts I can name.

If you're looking for a touch of class to add to your collection or if you lookin' for a cool album to play on your way to a jazz club, this music will certainly put you in the mood.

It's laid back and easy going but it's not "smooth jazz". Another stellar album from Mr Hands.