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Empyrean Isles

Herbie Hancock - Empyrean Isles Audio CD

A fair review of the Herbie Hancock "Empyrean Isles" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Herbie Hancock reviews here, or go back to the Herbie Hancock tabs.

Band: Herbie Hancock
Title: Empyrean Isles
Rating:

Release Date: 1999-03-23
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: One Finger Snap 2: Oliloqui Valley 3: Cantaloupe Island 4: Egg 5: One Finger Snap [Alternate Take][*] 6: Oliloqui Valley [Alternate Take][*]

Catch some waves
. 3 1/2

Hancock was staying as true to title as any ambitious jazz man could in the early 60's, taking off into his own dimensions with this early boundary-breaker, a solidly hot, trippyily-bopped travelogue which for all classically honed moments does have experimental indulgences as well.

Empyrean Isles
On Empyrean Isles, one of Herbie's earliest solo recordings we find the pianist/composer in fine shape creating some of the best jazz ever laid to wax. Herbie Hancock-Empyrean Isles *****

By the time of this release Herbie Hancock had already been with the great Miles Davis for over a year, which is the equivalent of four years at Juilliard School of Music.

What you hear on Empyrean Isles is the sound of the changing 1960's, this is the living embodiment of the movements. The stripped down and often laid back approach to this work can rival the best of the genre for that time period and the best of Hancock's work, because well this might just be his all time best work.

Without the use of trumpet we hear Hancock bring in Freddie Hubbard on a cornet adding a extra texture to the album. This revolutionary work was concidered radical in the day but now just seems revolutionary. Most notably is Tony Williams on the drum kit, and unsung hero and one of the instruments all time best. But it is Hancock who steals the show.

His compositions and mainly his work on the monster classic 'Cantaloupe Island' bring the house down. The extended workout on the quarter hour long 'The Egg' is over the top. 'Oliloqui Valley' and 'One Finger Snap' open the first side of the album and do so wonderfully but it is the latter side that kill.

Empyrean Isles is a jazz album unto itself. A hall of famer.

One of the best, by one ot the best
Why? Because like "maiden voyage" the playing here is both inventive and brilliant, but in addition to those virtues this album features an amazing variety that is nevertheless organic. If I had a gun put to my head by some quirky jazz-loving criminal who was intent on forcing me to confess which Herbie Hancock album was the greatest, I'd probably flirt with the idea of naming "maiden voyage" and then admit that this one was where it's at. In other words Hancock shows you all the most daring possible moves on the chessboard without trying to play checkers. It's an approach that rewards repeated listening, and as with the greatest of all jazz albums it allows the audience to come away with something new with each listen. This is one righteous, eternally fresh, piece of jazz-fruit that will never rot.
.

Hancock's best ever - essential jazz masterpiece
But this is my favorite Hancock album that I've heard. My knowledge of Herbie Hancock extends to five solo albums plus his work with Miles Davis, so I don't at all consider myself an expert on this guy. And yes, I know (and like) both Maiden Voyage and Headhunters, so don't tell me I don't know Herbie.
Anyway, the first thing to note is the guy behind the drum kit. That's right, Tony Williams is on this album. That should make it reason enough to buy it, no? Here's another. This record has the classic Canteloupe Island on it. Kind of like the original Watermelon Man (the one found on Takin' Off, that is) in that it's based around a simple funk-blues piano theme that becomes the launch pad for some stellar solos from cornet player Freddie Hubbard and Hancock himself. The Egg is also worth your while - its unpredictable structure messes with your head (it could've been three different songs!) and justifies the quarter-hour length. If I had this on vinyl, I could easily see myself spinning side 2 of this album to death.
To be honest, side one can't match up to side two. But I gave this five stars for a reason: Every song rules. One Finger Snap is an exciting, energetic piece of post-bop, and the ballad Oliloqui Valley boasts some melodic bass playing from Ron Carter. I like melodic bass playing.
This is a pure classic, plain and simple. A mix of modal jazz and blues - like Kind of Blue, only less blue. Maiden Voyage pales in comparison.

Herbie Hancock Has Arrived...

Empyrean Isles is one of those rare albums that manage to stretch the limits of the English language. Have you ever come across an artist that has 2 albums so good, it's virtually impossible to determine which of the 2 is better? Well today I'll be reviewing the first of 2 Herbie Hancock's explorations in excellence (with the other being Maiden Voyage). It is such a wonderful album that one sometimes struggles to find a word to describe it. Whenever asked how the album is, I always find myself frowning up my face, and then replying with the basic "That one is GOOD!!!" This is one of those albums that achieves perfect balance, and fills in the gaps in the center of your jazz collection. It isn't as subdued as "Kind of Blue", but it isn't quite as upbeat as "Miles Smiles". Empyrean Isles has a little more flare than "Lush Life", but it isn't quite as fiery as "A Love Supreme". To put it plainly, this album is the perfect balance of Freddie Hubbard's fire and Herbie Hancock's melodic harmony, and the fact that Herbie composed every song himself makes it all the more impressive.

I must admit though, in order to get the full effect of this compositional masterpiece, you really need to be sitting home alone or somewhere with your headphones on and your eyes closed. Needless to say the samples are virtually useless. There is no way possible to contain all the harmony, or display all the little nuances that make these compositions great within a 30 second time frame. Do yourself a favor: Take the dive. . . and enjoy!.

You can see a complete list of all Herbie Hancock discography, or go back to the Herbie Hancock tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.