Herbie Hancock has taken the world by storm with his bold improvisations on the jazz scene. Today, when he is under 80, he has not left creative activity. Continues to receive Grammy and MTV Awards, produces contemporary artists. What is the secret of his talent and love of life?
The Living Classic Mystery by Herbert Jeffrey Hancock
He will be awarded the title of “classic of jazz” and actively continue to create - this deserves respect. Hancock was nicknamed "wunderkind" from childhood, playing the piano. Oddly enough, he studied as a techie, became a successful solo jazzman, but also collaborated with the star of his generation - Miles Davis.
During his life, Hancock received many Grammy gramophones. Now he tracks trends, uses gadgets from Apple, records albums with the participation of new stars. He almost summed up his work in 2016 - then he was awarded the Grammy for achievements in stage life in general. How did the path of this congenial jazzman begin? And why is it interesting for new listeners?
The Birth of a Genius Herbert Jeffrey Hancock
Herbie Hancock was born and raised in Chicago. Date of birth - April 12, 1940. Parents were a standard couple - my father served in the office, my mother ran the household. When a child at the age of 7 was enrolled in piano lessons, a considerable talent was discovered. Teachers once dubbed Herbie a child prodigy, and at the age of 11 he performed on the same stage with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, playing works by Mozart.
But it is interesting that after such a bright start, Herbie did not immediately go into professional musicians. I decided to become an engineer, go to college, where I entered without any problems. Of course, technical knowledge will be useful to him in life, he receives a diploma - and again changes course to music.
Hancock founded his jazz band in 1961. He invited talented colleagues, including trumpeter Donald Byrd, who knew Miles Davis. By this point, Byrd had already released several quality albums at Blue Note Studios. And Davis was a respected jazzman, almost a legend - and he appreciated Herbie's talent.
Soon Davis invited Hancock as a pianist for rehearsals. His young team needed decent support. Hancock played with Tony Williams, Ron Carter - they took the positions of drummer and bassist. It was a test, Hancock suggested. But in fact, the recording of the album was already underway! Which became the famous acoustic masterpiece "Seven Steps to Heaven".
Free swimming Herbert Jeffrey Hancock
Cooperation with Davis lasted more than 5 years, the result is cult jazz-rock albums. But Hancock got married and was a little late on his honeymoon. This, according to rumors, was only an excuse for his removal from the group. Perhaps long-standing disagreements led to this decision. A wedding is not such a serious reason to be late for a working rehearsal. But Hancock did not take the matter lightly. His wife Gudrun was his only love all his life.
Hancock also did not smoke or drink, and was involved in charity work. He did not go to court, did not take drugs, did not enter into conflicts. Even adopted Buddhism. Perhaps the most modest star of jazz and rock! He stood outside politics, although at the time of Trump's nomination for the presidency he spoke out against it. But here the solo career goes in a zigzag way, there are throwing, doubts and experiments. Apparently, all the shocks were expressed in creativity.
Hancock changed course from sophisticated musical experiments to simple pop projects and dance music. At the same time, they brought him Grammys one after another. The musician was no stranger to progress, did not suffer from a tendency to retrograde thinking and stereotypes.
All modern trends in music he liked during his work with Davis. As electric guitars and a new generation of instruments came into vogue, Hancock experimented with rock. Miles also wanted to reach the level of "stardom" with a young audience, like Jimi Hendrix with his amazing guitar.
Great experimenter
There are different opinions: that Hancock did not recognize innovation and that it was he who changed the course of the team to a modern one. For example, Herbert Hancock himself said in the newspapers that he immediately began playing Rhodes electrokeyboards. Although, as a classical pianist, he did not appreciate this modern "toy" at first. But he was struck by the ability to build up the sound almost indefinitely, which is impossible with acoustic instruments. The keys sounded louder than the drums for the first time in history.
A techie by training, Hancock began collecting synthesizers, computers, and all kinds of electronics. He became friends with the founders of Apple - Jobs and Wozniak, even advised them on music software. Was a tester of new developments.
It is worth noting that Hancock's solo development was acoustic. It sounded fresh, but not so avant-garde; rather, it benefited from the talent of the pianist. In 1962, his first solo album, Takin' Off, was released on Blue Note Studios.
The invited talented trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, saxophonist Dexter Gordon played along. The first song "Watermelon Man" becomes a hit, as does the author's album. And when the song was covered by the Latin star Mongo Santamaria, the popularity became huge. This tune has forever become Herbie Hancock's calling card.
As a result, the career of a jazzman seemed to be bifurcated. He equally effectively made hits in the pop environment and improved his jazz art. Hip-hop hasn't been spared either. The album "Empyrean Isles" became a classic, and the composition "Cantaloop Island", with its especially poignant theme, became the starting point for the development of acid jazz.
Ageless Master
Already in the 1990s, in the era of rave and electronica, the song “Cantaloop” was released, performed by US3. It was a nod to Hancock and another hit. Broken rhythm, remix style, "acidity" - all this came from jazz, hard bop of the 1950s. And Hancock's role in it is undoubtedly huge. After this take-off, many began to cut samples from old jazz records.
Hancock's work has found a second life. He became an MTV hero in the 1980s, released an electric album "Head Hunters", worked with funk, electronics. In the album "Future Shock" he released the cult single "Rockit" - a harbinger of breakdancing. He anticipated new trends and created them himself. He did not forget acoustics and his roots - as a jazz virtuoso, he actively worked on the basics.
The video for the song "Rockit" was shot by cult directors Lol Krim and Kevin Godley. It's funny that the role of Hancock in it was played by ... TV, the artist himself refused to appear in the frame. The result is five Grammy awards.
Hancock changed recording studios. Left Warner Brothers for Universal, where the Verve jazz label operated. The album "The New Standard" (1996) became the herald of a new subtle and acoustic jazz-rock, although there was little jazz there. The standard was dictated by the stars of that time - Peter Gabriel, Sade, Kurt Cobain, Prince and others. And Hancock opened the door for conservative jazzmen to the world of pop music and rock - now it has become a good form. It is customary to rehash well-known hits in a jazz manner and vice versa.
The album "Gershwin's World" (1998) became an alliance with Johnny Mitchell. In 2007, a whole album with her songs was released - "River: The Joni Letters", with the participation of Norah Jones, Leonard Cohen.
Today, whoever does not rehash Hancock's hits - and the same Gabriel, and Pink, and John Legend, Kate Bush. Everyone does it in their own way. The contribution of the musician Herbert Hancock is so vast that the contribution of individuals leaves room for experimentation.
