The New Standard

by Herbie Hancock

Overview

On first glance this record would not seem to have much promise from a jazz standpoint. Herbie Hancock performs a set of tunes which include numbers from the likes of Peter Gabriel, Stevie Wonder, Sade, Paul Simon, Prince, the Beatles ("Norwegian Wood") and Kurt Cobain. However by adding vamps, reharmonizing the chord structures, sometimes quickly discarding the melodies and utilizing an all-star band, Hancock was able to transform the potentially unrewarding music into creative jazz. Hancock, who sticks to acoustic piano, shows that he is still in prime form, taking quite a few fiery solos. With Michael Brecker on tenor and surprisingly effective soprano, guitarist John Scofield, bassist Dave Holland, drummer Jack DeJohnette and percussionist Don Alias (along with an occasional horn or string section that was dubbed in later), the results are often quite hard-swinging and certainly never predictable. Although it is doubtful that any of these songs will ever become a jazz standard, Herbie Hancock has successfully created a memorable set of "new" music. Well worth investigating. ~ Scott Yanow

Product Details

Release Date:	08/11/2023
Label:	Verve
UPC:	0602455406224
Rank:	41460

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Herbie Hancock   Primary Artist,Piano,Keyboards
Jack DeJohnette   Guest Artist,Drums,Percussion
Dave Holland   Guest Artist,Double Bass,Bass (Acoustic)
Gary Herbig   Guest Artist,Flute,Clarinet (Bass)
Michael Brecker   Guest Artist,Sax (Tenor),Sax (Soprano)
Sam Riney   Guest Artist,Flute,Flute (Alto)
John Scofield   Guest Artist,Sitar,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Gene Cipriano   Oboe,Horn (English)
Maurice Spears   Trombone (Bass)
Lili Haydn   Violin
Oscar Brashear   Trumpet,Flugelhorn
Cameron Stone   Cello
Margaret Wooten   Violin
Don Alias   Percussion
Suzette Moriarty   French Horn
Les Lovitt   Trumpet,Flugelhorn

Technical Credits

Andrew Hale   Composer
Paul McCartney   Composer
Paul Simon   Composer
Bob Belden   Arranger
Babyface   Composer
Kurt Cobain   Composer
Jai Winding   Composer
Donald Fagen   Composer
Joel Moss   Engineer
Don Henley   Composer
John Pace   Engineer
John Lennon   Composer
Walter Becker   Composer
Scott Hull   Mastering
Prince   Composer
Art Garfunkel   Composer
Stuart Matthewman   Composer
Stevie Wonder   Composer
Guy Eckstine   Producer
Danny Kortchmar   Composer
Kenneth Edmonds   Composer
Sade Adu   Composer
Peter Gabriel   Composer
Darrell Smith   Mixing Assistant,Associate Producer
Herbie Hancock   Arranger,Composer,Producer
Yvonne Wright   Composer
Jimmy Katz   Photography
Richard Clarke   Assistant Engineer
John Schuenemen   Assistant Engineer
Camille Tominaro   Production Coordination
James Minchin   Photography
Patricia Lie   Art Direction
Jean Hancock   Composer