"Mwandishi" from 1971(the first incredible recording by this line-up), was just the beginning. Hancock refined that compositional style to the greatest imaginable heights with this groundbreaking 1972 release, "Crossings" that points toward his future funk fusion.There are numerous elements constantly at play. This is an album of contemporary 'classical' composition with gorgeous ensemble themes, meets infectious funk grooves,alongside psychedelia, often laced with concise solos, all within one monstrous epic.
There can be little doubt that pick of the three tracks on offer here is Hancock's only composition, Sleeping Giant. After this never-bettered 25 minute epic, about which I can't say anything you won't already know, the writing duties are passed onto reed man Bennie Maupin, who dazzles us with the deeply unsettling Quasar, and then harmonically stunning Water Torture.
The simple reason for this being the greatest Herbie Hancock album of them all is that if you were ever looking for the career of the great man condensed down into one album, you would have to choose Crossings.
Herbie Hancock - Crossings
1. Sleeping Giant — 24:502. Quasar — 7:27
3. Water Torture — 14:04
Herbie Hancock, electric piano, mellotron, percussion; Billy Hart, drums, percussion; Buster Williams, electric bass, percussion; Benny Maupin, soprano saxophone, alto flute, bass clarinet, piccolo, percussion; Eddie Henderson, trumpet, flugelhorn, percussion; Julian Priester, bass, tenor and alto trombone, percussion; with Patrick Gleason, Moog synthesizer; Victor Pontoja, congas; Candy Love, voice; Sandra Stevens, voice; Della Horne, voice; Victoria Domagalski, voice; Scott Beach, voice
1 comments:
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