Search - Herbie Hancock :: Trio '81

The Best Jazz Trio In Jazz

Patrick Frierson | 09/03/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you love Herbie Hancock check out this acoustic trio recording with Herbie on acoustic piano, Ron Carter on
Bass and Tony Williams on Drums."

Hidden Gem

Matthew E. Perko | Cleveland, Ohio USA | 06/26/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a Herbie record that few people know about, because it's a Japanese import. Every jazz musicain should have this recording. The trio is on fire. You even get to hear some clunky Ron Carter bass solos, that admittedly, will grow on you after time. Some great arrangements of old standards, and a couple of originals, make up an album of superb playing on all parts, and a definite must have. You'll listen to this one over and over again."

Fantastic Trio Recording

Christopher Calabrese | Watertown, CT, USA | 03/26/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I must agree with another reviwer who called this a hidden gem. As a fan of acoustic Herbie, I had been searching for some time for a trio recording with Carter and Williams. No one should doubt the sheer intensity of recordings such as MAIDEN VOYAGE and EMPYREAN ISLES, but if you're searching for a pleasant divergence from Freddie Hubbard or George Coleman, then you've come to the right place.



The most startling difference between this and past Herbie records is the magnificent bass sound. It sounds as if the studio engineers by 1981 had figured out how to properly mic an acoustic bass with little to no 'clunkiness'. What you get instead is an acoustic bass sound as smooth as you're ever going to hear. The highlight of this recording is the Hancock original, 'Dolphin Dance,' which grows from its soft, elegant melody into an absolute barn burner. 'A Slight Smile' is a nice deviation with a foot in the classical realm. All five tracks are superb, and well worth the price of this import. It will be a vital piece of your Herbie collection."