Wednesday, 11 January 2012
Herbie Hancock
Watermelon Man (1962)
Watermelon Man (1973)
A study in contrasts. Two versions of Herbie Hancock's 'Watermelon Man', illustrating his mastery of two styles of jazz - hard bop and fusion. Pianist Hancock first recorded the tune for his debut album as band leader, Takin' Off (1962), when he was just 22 years old. This was a couple of years prior to him joining up with Miles Davis in Davis's supreme mid-60's quintet. Hancock worked with Miles for the next few years, turning to electric keyboards for Davis's controversial jazz-rock fusion phase, first heralded on albums like In A Silent Way and Bitches Brew. Through this latter period Hancock continued to lead his own groups and recorded some experimental jazz sounds before getting seriously funky on his Head Hunters album of 1973. Herbie Hancock has, at times, been criticized by jazz snobs for 'selling out' but, surely, if it sounds good it is good, that's all.
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5 comments:
Singing Bear,
Are you in a blog a day challenge! A busy music man this week! The first video is blocked in my country it says. Loved the Woody and Arlo and let me to more of my love of Dylan. I had some stuff in there about Baez and the early war protests, Vietnam, coming home in boxes, etc. Luckily that song and that part of the story did not show up! Sometimes glitches are good. Tech editors. Thanks for the inspiration.
Hug those Bear cubs while you still have them around!
Ginger: Sometimes I just sit in front of the computer in the evenings and I might be listening to some music or thinking of a tune and I think to myself, 'I'd like to share this and talk about it.' It's better than watching telly! (except maybe 'The Big Bang Theory', which is totally brilliant). Sorry you couldn't hear the first version. It's great, so I'll replace it with another video in the hope that the US will accept that one.
Peace.
That would be great. You are correct, the Telly has gone to hell, except my new favorite...Revenge. Do you have it there? I think the plot is well done...there is one for one thing, and it seems to have a beginning, middle and an end. :)
Big Bang Theory I have not seen. gin
I've not heard of 'Revenge' - I don't think it's over here yet. I'll keep a look out for it. Mrs. Bear is a big fan of a number of US shows - 'Supernatural', 'Criminal Minds', 'NCIS' etc. - they are, largely, better than anything we have here. You must watch 'Big Bang' if you like a good old laugh!
Classic stuff SB, it's amazing how much jazz I'm aware of through hip hop, I think LL Cool J sampled it. I couldn't see the 73' version though. Keep the jazz flowing.
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