Herbie Needs To Retire
Herbie Hancock is a brilliant pianist, but his output since the 70s has been terrible. I think the title of my review says it all. It's like he isn't capable of playing beautiful music anymore and he can't swing anymore. This recording is just pure, unadulterated garbage. Why Herbie continues to record with vocalists is beyond me.
Everything about this album bothers me. It's like a bad orange, each layer you peel back the worst it becomes. Herbie should just do everyone a favor and go back to playing bebop, because that's what he was best at doing. He has proven time and time again that he can't do albums like these.
Anyone interested in hearing Herbie play music check out "Takin Off," "Empryean Isles," "Maiden Voyage," or "Speak Like A Child. "
Jazz fans stay away from this one, it stinks!.
Im-Possibilities
High expectations dissipated soon after the first track, as the album plods along and halts to a screatch with some rendetions, which are unrecognizable compared to Mitchell's originals. After being pleasantly surprised by Hancock's collaborations on "Possibilities," I was very disappointed is this effort, especially since I bought it after the Grammy's were announced. There are virtually no upbeat moments on this CD save for the title track, and the the dense arrangements require the listener to struggle to hear the sweet spot. Save your money on the CD and download one or two tracks instead. I'm headed for the nearest CD exchange store. .
Herbie Hancock - "River"
If you enjoy Joni Mitchell & some soft jazz, you're going to love this album.
What a dull set
Tina Turner is in superb form. I bought this on the strength of Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter being great favourites of mine for over 30 years, and I really like Joni Mitchell's "Hissing of Summer Lawns", from which this set takes it's best track (Edith and the Kingpin).
It is a very disappointing set. It's well played, but never sparks.
I cannot see how it deserves a 'Grammy' award.
I don't get the point of the Leonard Cohen monologue at all.
Get the Joni Mitchell album. It's far superior to this offering.
A classy tribute to a great American Songwriter
To me, Joni Mitchell's songs in the original form are hard to top. To tell the truth ,I wasn't expecting that much from this album. I haven't even been very impressed with her own recent covers of her classic work. So I put off getting this until recently. I am happy to report that for the most part this CD exceeded my expectations. First of all, I love the downtime mood of the proceedings. Herbie was creating an album, not just a collection of tunes. The pacing and order was well thought out, as was the choice of tunes, covering some of her more well known compositions, yet sprinkling in a few more obscure offerings. The arrangements are creative, often adding unexpected harmonic twists that place the album further into jazz territory than their original counterparts, but without compromising the integrity of the melodies or lyrics.
Many of the players on the CD had some prior association with Joni. Herbie,Vinnie Coliauta, and the great Wayne Shorter have all made appearances on her records and really understand how to accompany a singer. I have read reviews criticizing Shorter's performances on this CD and I couldn't disagree more strongly. Wayne is playing off the lyrics as he has done with Milton Nascimento and Ms Mitchell herself. His angular short flurries of notes are part of his signature style. The fact that he has become a sort of minimalist should come as no surprise to anyone who has followed his career in recent years.
This is a well arranged, fresh and probing take on Mitchell's oeuvre. Nora Jones sounds great on Court and Spark. And as mentioned in other reviews, Tina Turner delivers a definitive interpretation of Edith and the Kingpin. Made me want to break out Hissing of Summer Lawns" again, one of Mitchell's most underrated album. Herbie must agree as he also covers The Jungle Line" although this is in my opinion the least successful track. Leonard Cohen's straight reading of the lyric as a spoken word doesn't work and is the one track I always skip. Come to think about it, it was also my least favorite track on Hissing.
This edition with the bonus tracks is the one to get. Although not as adventurous as the rest of the covers , Sonya's Kitchell's covers of All I want and A case of You round out the proceedings most agreeably.
Overall all, I highly recommend the album. It is far and away the best Joni Mitchell tribute out there and yields some surprisingly deep musical moments along the way.
You can see a complete list of all Herbie Hancock discography, or go back to the Herbie Hancock tabs
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