Speak Like a Child [Extra tracks, Original recording remastered]

Herbie Hancock | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 1, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks, Original recording remastered
• Label: Blue Note Records
• ASIN: B0007LLQ3W
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #51,186 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Recorded three years after his groundbreaking Maiden Voyage LP, this 1968 date features the pianist/composer leading a trio which includes his Miles Davis bandmate, bassist Ron Carter, and drummer Mickey Roker, augmented by a three-piece horn section featuring alto flute, bass trombone, and Thad Jones on flugelhorn. This unique configuration was inspired by the orchestral timbres of Gil Evans's voicings, filtered through a 1960s syncopated perspective. Remastered by the original session engineer, Rudy Van Gelder, Hancock's percussive, yet flowing pianisms are more detailed in front of the evocative woodwind arrangements. Several jazz standards flowed from this date. The maze-like "Riot" and "The Sorcerer" were both recorded by Davis--as well as the dreamy bossa nova title track. Hancock plays with his patented style of "controlled freedom," and this LP paved the way for his future forays in modern music. --Eugene Holley, Jr.

Product Description

One of the most beautiful and unusual albums in Herbie Hancock's vast discography, this 1968 set features a trio with Ron Carter and Mickey Roker supported by an unusual horn section (Thad Jones on fluegelhorn, Peter Phillips on bass trombone and Jerry Dodgion on alto flute) that does not solo but provides inventive Gil Evans-inspired voicings. Miles Davis had recorded two of these tunes ("Riot" and "The Sorcerer") the previous year, but they take on a whole different approach here. Three alternate takes, previously available only in a Hancock box set, are included on the gorgeous Van Gelder remaster.

* bonus tracks, not part of the original LP

Recorded on March 6 (#1-3, 7, 8) and March 9 (#4-6, 9), 1968 at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

THAD JONES, fluegelhorn; PETER PHILLIPS, bass trombone; JERRY DODGION, alto flute; HERBIE HANCOCK, piano; RON CARTER, bass; MICKEY ROKER, drums

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Undeniably Gorgeous March 6, 2005

By Leone Evangelista

Format:Audio CD

"Speak Like A Child" occupies a special place in Herbie Hancock's back catalog. A fine mix of deft writing and involved group interplay, it is also among the singular examples of small group arrangement in modern jazz. Here, Hancock's complex, powerful charts interpose some of the most remarkable trio work in the pianist's career. Bassist Ron Carter and drummer Mickey Roker provide a supple, viscous rhythmic backdrop for the pianist's lead lines, while the formidable triptych of fluegelhornist Thad Jones, bass trombonist Peter Phillips, and alto flutist Jerry Dodgion juggle Hancock's tricky melodic material with wit and gusto. Practically all of the solo space belongs to the leader, whose playing here is as eloquent as anywhere else on record; in this unique context, Hancock's improvisations sound liberated, epic. It does not hurt that this album contains perhaps the most fascinating program of compositions on any of the pianist's Blue Note albums. Included are the vigorous, tempestuous "Riot," as well as "The Sorcerer"--two tunes also played by the 60's-era Miles Davis Quintet. "Toys" and "Goodbye to Childhood" are less deliberate, the latter a somber, dirge-like production rearranged to great effect on the included alternate take. Special recognition goes to Ron Carter, whose giddy, up-tempo romp "First Trip" provides some interesting trio dialogue (the only true "trio" track on the disc), as well as to Herbie's composition "Speak Like A Child." A moving, emotionally wrenching tour-de-force, "Speak Like A Child" epitomizes the atmosphere of the album: multifaceted, introspective, and drowning in pathos. For all its virtuosity, the album is truly remarkable for its sheer, ephemeral beauty--a composition in and of itself.

The Rudy Van Gelder Edition vastly improves the sound balance of the original CD reissue, although the bottom end does seem a little too weighty at times. Regardless, it's nice to actually hear Ron Carter again--his articulation, touch, and sense of harmony are positively outstanding. Also benefiting from the improved sound is Roker, a remarkably tasty drummer, if less combustible than many of his peers in the late-60's. The bonus takes are nothing new to owners of the Hancock Blue Note boxed set, but they're well worth it--for "Goodbye to Childhood" alone.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Landmark Jazz Piano Album September 17, 2005

By M. Farfaglia

Format:Audio CD

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. 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. 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.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Hear This "Child" Speak. August 21, 2005

By The Groove

Format:Audio CD

"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. It's the followup to his classic "Maiden Voyage" and was recorded in two sessions: March 6 and March 9 in 1968. 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.