Pianist/composer Herbie Hancock: "Mwandishi"

For the fourth episode of The Jazz Show's Jazz Features we are spotlighting some of the creative changes in Jazz music in the late 60s and early 70s. We turn to master musician Herbie Hancock who at age 78 is still a vital force in the music. This album marks a special period in Hancock's varied and eclectic explorations of almost every conceivable musical style. Hancock, after leaving Miles Davis in 1969 after being with him for 7 years formed his own band. It was a sextet and was exploring acoustic Jazz. After some personnel changes the sextet format was retained but the sound became more electric and more contemporary and Hancock began to explore some of the concepts that he learned from Miles Davis' post "Bitches Brew" period. Hancock played electric Fender Rhodes piano with various attachements and led Eddie Henderson on trumpet and flugelhorn, Julian Priester on trombone, Bennie Maupin on bass clarinet and flute and sometimes tenor saxophone, Buster Williams on acoustic and electric bass and Billy Hart on drums. The players all adopted alternate names from the Swahili tradition. Hancock became "Mwandishi" (the word means writer). Tonight we hear their first album called "Mwandishi". They did two more before Hancock changed courses once again with his his "Chameleon" and the album "Rocket". The Mwandishi Band is a special one and the chemistry is unique. Tonight we hear the full album. Enjoy!