Herbie Hancock: Maiden Voyage

"Maiden Voyage" stands out as a landmark of the Blue Note sound, and remains Herbie Hancock's finest composition. In the midst of a turbulent jazz scene, where musicians were restlessly exploring all of their options, Hancock always approached his recordings with a clear, holistic vision. Classic Hancock performances such as "Watermelon Man" or "Cantaloupe Island" would establish their identity in the introductory bars, and stick to the same course until they reached their chosen destination. The texture and ambiance of the music envelops the listener -- and the musicians too. If Freddie Hubbard ever took a hotter trumpet solo than on this recording, I haven't heard it. And all done with only four suspended chords -- but the 'hook' is in the vamp. One of the high points of 1960s jazz.