My Point of View [ORIGINAL RECORDING REISSUED] [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]

Herbie Hancock,michael Brecker,roy Hargrove, Herbie Hancock

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 14, 1999)
• Original Release Date: March 19, 1963
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Label: Blue Note Records
• ASIN: B00000K4GO
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #131,175 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  Music > Indie Music > Jazz > Jazz Fusion

• This item is part of The RVG Edition Series.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
In this 1963 recording session, pianist Herbie Hancock had a chance to work with a septet that could highlight his burgeoning skills as an arranger and composer. With Hancock's inventive sense of voicings already defined, it's a happy mix of inspired charts and spirited blowing that fuses the hard bop of trumpeter Donald Byrd and tenor saxophonist Hank Mobley with the bluesy approach of guitarist Grant Green and Hancock's own fluent soloing and incisive comping. Also notable is the explosive young drummer Tony Williams, who was already showing the distinctive fire that would soon ignite Miles Davis's band. The track "Blind Man, Blind Man" is a funky romp that clearly builds on Hancock's remarkable success with the earlier "Watermelon Man" and is a harbinger of the pop success he'd later enjoy with the Headhunters. --Stuart Broomer

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Herbie has his way (but not his piano), June 11, 2006

By	Samuel Chell (Kenosha,, WI United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Simply put, "Blind Man, Blind Man" is an attempt to come up with another "Watermelon Man" and scarcely rates one listen, so the addition of the alternate take is hardly a bonus (though Mobley deserves some credit for coming up with a few things to say on a single Bb7 chord). The other tracks are highly worthy Hancock originals, full of unusual melody making and unexpected harmonies. "Tribute to Someone" contains a risk-taking yet complete and satisfying solo by Mobley, who also takes chances on "And What If I Don't," faltering a bit this time but still communicative.

"King Cobra" and "The Pleasure Is Mine" are showcases for Hancock's composing and arranging skills, his close harmonizations of the three horns producing some of the richest textures I've ever heard by him. Here Byrd, Mobley, and Moncur form a tight and responsive choir to the antiphonal statements of piano and guitar.

Recording engineer Van Gelder has always had a talent for making his horns sound bigger than life as well as for bringing out all of the sizzle and ring in a drummer's ride cymbal. But the sound of his pianos is always muffled and "bottled up," at best an acquired taste. On this recording, the trademark Van Gelder piano sound is more in evidence than ever. Frankly, I would like to be able to hear Herbie's own idea of how a piano should sound.

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Herbie's Best, July 17, 2000

By	Frank Bock (Maine/NY) - See all my reviews

In my opinion, this is Herbie Hancock's best bluenote album. Blind Man, Blind Man is a rewrite of Watermellon Man, but the addition of guitar (Grant Green) and trombone (Grachan Moncur III) give the arrangement a more interesting edge. The next two songs, A Tribute To Someone and King Cobra are the best that Herbie ever wrote. Hank Mobley and Donald Byrd play beautiful on them. Mobley in particular, never sounded so pretty before or after as he does here. And Tony Williams, eighteen on this recording, plays with the maturity and restraint of someone 3 times his age.

A Tribute To Someone and King Cobra, to me, are better than anything Herbie Hancock ever recorded, solo or otherwise. That alone to me makes this record even more essential than Maiden Voyage or Emperyan Isles. The Pleasure is Mind is no Dolphin Dance and And What If I Don't is no Cantaloupe Island, but don't let that stop you from buying this. And don't let reviewers who dream of hearing Maiden Voyage Part II lead you to believe that My Point Of View is in any way inferior to anything Herbie ever recorded for bluenote. And as I mentioned before, if you are a fan of Hank Mobley (as I am) or Donald Byrd, both of them are in prime form. Mobley is at his best. Get the album.

7 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable, but not Essential, July 13, 2000

By	James D. Spackman (Houston, Tx) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Some nice, bluesy/funky writing, and good playing all around, but nothing spectacular. Despite the large group, the arrangements never get too busy. If you like Hancock, you'll like this CD, but it won't knock you off your feet like MAIDEN VOYAGE does.