Search - Herbie Hancock :: Dis Is Da Drum

In A Class By Itself !!!

Andrea G. Thompson | Tallahassee, FL United States | 08/16/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was first treated to this magic CD by a friend who popped it into my machine and sat back to watch my reaction. I was chatting away, when, suddenly the most awesome sounds grabbed me by the soul, and I COULD NOT BELIEVE MY EARS ... IT WAS SO INCREDIBLY GRIPPING MY CONSCIOUSNESS I COULDN'T DO ANYTHING BUT SHIVER WITH DELIGHT AND REPEAT "WOW!" OVER AND OVER, THROUGHOUT EACH FASCINATING TUNE TIL THE END! My friend chuckled as he watched me glow with the ecstasy of my first hearing it! Of course, for me, there really never was an end ... I pushed the repeat button, and it became the only album I could listen to for weeks ... 'enough' just wasn't in my vocabulary for this incredible masterpiece! I resist categorizing this particular album -- it's in a realm all its own, and I can't remember ever hearing anything that resembles it for originality and hypnotic effects on the pscyche! My respect for my friend's taste in music leaped into stellar domain, and if his intention was to impress and please me that night ... well, he sure scored big time! This is GORGEOUS stuff ... top of my favorites! Herbie, to me, is at his most inspired peak of genius, here! It's the kind of masterpiece that leaves you wishing you could have been a privileged guest at the recording sessions that produced it. WOW!!! Five stars just could not describe the thrills! This is music for sharing ... pleasure that endears and endures!!!

"

Good album; solid, but not great

DarkPoet | Atlanta, GA USA | 06/16/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I am admittedly a late bloomer when it comes to Herbie Hancock. I became familiar with him when I was eight years old when he released "Rockit." I had no idea he was a jazz legend or a great keyboardist; all I knew is that "Rockit" was a great song to breakdance to, and the video, although creepy, was amazing. However, as I got older, I purchased more of his older works, including Headhunters, Maiden Voyage, and his works with Chick Corea. Needless to say, I was amazed at his skill and his ability to adapt to any musical genre--truly a "chameleon."



I had heard quite a bit about Dis is Da Drum, and I finally decided to give it a listen. While mixing funk, jazz, hip hop, and African dance is a bold move for any artist, Hancock curiously decides to play it safe. He finds a groove and just sticks with it. There are no solos, riffs, or chord changes that make your jaws drop. Instead, it sounds like an eclectic jam session. There are a few standout cuts on this album. "Hump," for example, is a funky, jazzy romp. Herbie and company seem to be having the most fun on this particular piece. "Butterfly" is a masterpiece; Hubert Laws' flute work really enhances the track. "Bo Ba Be Da" could have been considered a classic had Hancock decided to cut loose. However, his subdued piano work actually brings an otherwise great track down a few notches.



Musically, Dis is Da Drum could be groundbreaking. The rhythm and vocal arrangements are top notch. Credit producer Bill Summers for his vision, but this album desperately needs a little more of that oomph that Hancock is known for."