Herbie Hancock and Friends - Spotlight (Day 3)

Before we cover Head Hunters and move towards the jazz-funk fusion chapter of Herbie's career, I'd like to take a quick look at a few albums that are more reminiscent of the Mwandishi band/sound. 

First up is Love, Love from trombonist Julian Priester. Recorded in June of 1973, and very much cut from the same cloth as our previous post, the album features 2 long tracks (technically listed as 5 songs) that lean towards experimental and free fusion with few stops. We have a couple familiar faces along with some new. The middle of the 2nd side is my favorite - what would be considered "Eternal Worlds" I'm guessing. The tempo picks up and the frantic piano from Bayete is followed by some call and response for the horns players. This one is new to me and while it's sound is not what I always reach for, I dig it, nonetheless.

Julian Priester - Trombones, horns, flute, synthesizer, percussion.
Patrick Gleeson - Synthesizer.
David Johnson - Flute and soprano saxophone.
Bill Connors - Electric guitar.
Hadley Caliman - Bass clarinet, flute, tenor and alto saxophones.
Umbra Zindiko "Bayete" - Piano, Fender Rhodes and clavinet.
Henry Franklin - Double and electric bass. 
Leon Chancler - Drums and percussion.

Next for us is the sophomore release from trumpeter Eddie Henderson, Inside Out. Recorded in the fall of 1973, the album features the original Mwandishi band, sans Priester, with the addition of Bill Summers on percussion and a 2nd drummer in Eric Gravatt. 

Eddie Henderson - Trumpet, flugelhorn and cornet.
Bennie Maupin - Clarinet, bass clarinet, alto and piccolo flute, tenor saxophone.
Herbie Hancock - Fender Rhodes, clavinet and organ.
Patrick Gleeson - Synthesizer.
Buster Williams - Double and electric bass.
Bill Summers - Percussion.
Billy Hart - Drums.
Eric Gravatt - Drums.

The Maupin tune "Moussaka" starts us off and goes back and forth between the free sound we've heard and a more accessible groove from Williams on double bass and Maupin on tenor. "Omnipresence" is a quick track followed by 4 rock solid tunes in "Discoveries", "Fusion", "Dreams" & "Inside Out." I particularly dig the title track with Herbie on clavinet. Buster Williams really shines throughout on this entire album and I'm looking forward to sharing some of his releases as we go. All in all, another gem of an album from Henderson and company.

Next up, we have Bennie Maupin's debut solo album in, The Jewel In The Lotus. Recorded in the spring of 1974, and released later that year, here we have a free/avant-garde sound that differs from the later Maupin releases we'll look at. Likely it's just over my head - but this one doesn't quite do it for me. I do really enjoy the title track, along with the closing tune, "Past Is Past." 

Bennie Maupin - Reeds, glockenspiel. 
Herbie Hancock - Piano, electric piano.
Buster Williams - Bass.
Bill Summers - Percussion.
Freddie Waits - Drums, marimba.
Billy Hart - Drums.

BONUS: 2023 was the 50th Anniversary of Marvin Gaye's classic album, Let's Get It On. To celebrate, a deluxe version was released including a batch of instrumentals that featured Herbie Hancock on piano. Some of the tracks end abruptly as they were a part of random studio sessions but are a joy to hear, regardless. "Perfection" and "Cakes" are my favorite tunes. I can't find a ton of details on the personnel and I'm assuming it's Herbie on each of the songs on disc 4, included here as a bonus.

Enjoy!