A Timeless Record
This is it. . you know when people talk about music that touches you in the inner depths of your being? This is the kind of music they're referring to. Beautiful compositions, and a virtuoso sense of playing make this album one for the ages. . . one people can listen to in one houndred years and still be touched in the same way. Simply put: Beautiful, Beautiful music.
Tony Williams must have been a jerk...
. . because I can think of no other reason not to include him on this session. Mickey Roker is a solid drummer but he is much more conservative and can't push a soloist like Williams could. And yet, Williams appeared on only three Herbie Hancock albums for Blue Note, and on only one Wayne Shorter session, even though the three of them were making incredible music with Miles Davis at the time. Perhaps Williams represented a specific sound, something too close to Miles, and the sidemen of the Second Great Quintet wanted to make their own personal musical statements. But still, that didn't stop Shorter from hiring Hancock and bassist Ron Carter for multiple sessions. . .
Anyway, the music at present definitely succeeds at being different than Miles' music of the time in that Hancock takes a more measured, orchestral approach to his arrangements, using his three horn players mostly for color. Still, beyond the somewhat advanced arrangements, this is more conservative than what Hancock was doing with Miles at the time, almost becoming standard issue hard bop on tunes like "First Trip," although it's *good* almost hard bop and Hancock's unorthodox sense of melodic line saves the tune from getting too "inside. " Then the title track is beautiful, even if the rock pulse makes it sound slightly dated. Hancock's arrangements of "Riot" and "The Sorcerer" manage to be different (both thicker and, paradoxically, tamer) than the previous recordings with the Davis group. Hancock was searching for a different sound, and he found it here, with some great arranging, but it still lacks some of the fire he was helping create with Miles. All in all, this is a good, orchestral, fairly challenging offering that spotlights Hancock's playing well. He continued to explore this sound with the superior album "The Prisoner," which seems more fully realized.
An intriguing lineup that works.
Love. I was initially pulled in by the album cover, which jumped out at me as a vivid example of what the music might try to create. Herbie's theme is explained in the liner notes and the music lived up to that mantra and the album's title fully. The lineup also jumped out at me. Having three wind instruments in the ensemble coupled with Herbie's virtuosity and the mighty Ron Carter got me wondering. I must admit, I was only partially familiar with Mickey Roker, but he impresses as well. The overall sound reminds me greatly of the dissonant Gil Evans sound prevalent on Miles Davis's collabos with him. Needless to say I love that flavor, which is why this album is such a treat. Clearly the type of recording interesting enough to make someone ask you "who is that??" Great album!.
Landmark Jazz Piano Album
What makes the title track so intriguing, in addition to the Gil Evans-inspired voicings, is the melody itself: it's more hinted at as opposed to being clearly stated, bringing the impressionism of Debussy and Ravel to mind. With two reviews on this page only awarding four stars to this exceptional recording, I'll take my cue to argue why "Speak Like a Child" deserves no less than five. The crown jewel for this reviewer, though, is Ron Carter's "First Trip. " Hancock's solo is a perfect fusion of bebop, funk and the blues. The lines are intricate, chromatic, and infectious, while the motivic development here is particularly marvelous, perhaps Herbie's best on record. This disc is an absolute essential for students of jazz piano in particular.
Hear This "Child" Speak.
It's the followup to his classic "Maiden Voyage" and was recorded in two sessions: March 6 and March 9 in 1968. "Speak Like a Child" is a Herbie Hancock release that was out of print for many years before it was rescued by Rudy Van Gelder, who remastered and reissued it in 2005. Hancock is well-supported by a talented team, with bass player Ron Carter and drummer Mickey Roker making particularly notable impressions on "Toys" and "Riot. " If the latter track sounds familiar, it's because it was also recorded by Miles Davis (you can check out his own version on his 1967 album "Nefertiti," and another track, "Sorcerer" was also recorded by Miles). In addition, a three-member horn section highlights the smooth and gentle title cut, and there's some dynamic interplay between Hancock, Roker, and Carter on the breezy "First Trip. " A laid-back vibe, touches of understated elegance, and a distinct air of cool makes "Speak Like a Child" such a worthy entry in Hancock's catalogue. If you missed this album the first time around, here's your second chance to experience it, in all its remastered glory.
You can see a complete list of all Herbie Hancock discography, or go back to the Herbie Hancock tabs
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