Herbie Hancock
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Pianists · b. 1940

Herbie Hancock

American jazz pianist and composer (born 1940)

Born
12 April 1940
Chicago
Country
United States
Active
1961–
Record labels
Columbia Records, Blue Note, Verve Records, Mercury Records, Warner Records Inc.
Discography
73 albums

Biography

Herbie Hancock is a jazz musician who plays piano, flute, musical keyboard and synthesizer. Herbie Hancock was born on 12 April 1940 in Chicago. The music is usually filed under jazz, jazz fusion and post-bop. Record labels: Columbia Records, Blue Note, Verve Records and Mercury Records. The discography here lists 73 albums, from “Takin’ Off” (1962) to “Live in Chicago 1977” (2022). Honours include Grammy Award for Best R&B Instrumental Performance (1983), MTV Video Music Award for Best Art Direction (1984) and MTV Video Music Award for Best Concept Video (1984).

Herbert Jeffrey Hancock (born April 12, 1940) is an American jazz musician, bandleader, and composer. He started his career with trumpeter Donald Byrd's group. Hancock soon joined the Miles Davis Quintet, where he helped to redefine the role of a jazz rhythm section and was one of the primary architects of the post-bop sound. In the 1970s, he experimented with jazz fusion, funk, and electro styles using a wide array of synthesizers and electronics. It was during this time that he released one of his best-known and most influential albums, Head Hunters. Hancock's best-known compositions include "Cantaloupe Island", "Watermelon Man", "Maiden Voyage", and "Chameleon", all of which are jazz standards. During the 1980s, he had a hit single with the electronic instrumental "Rockit", a collaboration with bassist/producer Bill Laswell.

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Discography

Studio and live albums

Takin’ Off 1962 · Blue Note My Point of View 1963 · Blue Note Empyrean Isles 1964 · Blue Note Inventions & Dimensions 1964 · Blue Note Maiden Voyage 1965 · Blue Note Blow-Up 1966 · MGM Records Speak Like a Child 1968 · Blue Note Fat Albert Rotunda 1969 · Warner Bros. Records The Prisoner 1969 Jammin’ With Herbie 1970 · TCB Records Mwandishi 1971 · Warner Bros. Records Crossings 1972 · Warner Bros. Records Head Hunters 1973 · CBS/Sony
Live Ultrasonic Studios, Hempstead 1973 · Live
Sextant 1973 · CBS The Spook Who Sat By The Door 1973 · United Artists Death Wish 1974 · CBS Dedication 1974 · CBS/Sony In Concert, Volume Two 1974 · Live · CTI Thrust 1974 · CBS Flood 1975 · Live · CBS/Sony Man-Child 1975 · Columbia Secrets 1976 · Columbia Ivanhoe Theatre 1977 · Live V.S.O.P. 1977 · Live · Columbia An Evening With Herbie Hancock & Chick Corea: In Concert 1978 · Live · CBS/Sony Sunlight 1978 · Columbia Butterfly 1979 · CBS/Sony Directstep 1979 · CBS/Sony Feets Don’t Fail Me Now 1979 · CBS The Piano 1979 · CBS/Sony Monster 1980 · CBS Mr. Hands 1980 · CBS/Sony Live in Tokyo 1981 1981 · Live Magic Windows 1981 · Columbia Lite Me Up 1982 · CBS Quartet 1982 · CBS Future Shock 1983 · Music on CD Live in Japan 1984 · Live · TDK Super Video Sound-System 1984 · CBS Village Life 1985 · Columbia Round Midnight: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack 1986 · Columbia Jazz Africa 1987 · Live · AV Perfect Machine 1988 · CBS Out of This World 1991 · Rockin' Chair A Tribute to Miles 1994 · Qwest Records Dis Is da Drum 1994 · Mercury Records The New Standard 1996 · Verve 1+1 1997 · Verve Gershwin’s World 1998 Nightlife Late Night 2000 · Direct Source Special Products Inc. Future 2 Future 2001 · Columbia Directions in Music: Live at Massey Hall 2002 · Live · Verve Future 2 Future - LIVE (at the Knitting Factory) 2002 · Live · Columbia Music Video Herbie Hancock Special 2004 · Live · TDK Mediactive Live: Detroit/Chicago 2005 · Live · Hudson/Street Records Piano Fiesta 2005 · Live · Jazz Hour Possibilities 2005 · Herbie Hancock Records Live Voyage 2006 · Live · Herbie Hancock Records
2007-06-18: Britt Amphitheater, Jacksonville, OR 2007 · Live
River: The Joni Letters 2007 · Verve
2008-12-08: Goeteborg, SE 2008 · Live
Late Night Jazz Favorites 2008
The Imagine Project 2010 · Sony Music
Live at the Boston Jazz Workshop 2015 · Live
Omaha Civic Auditorium, 17th November 1975 2015 · Live
Headhunters (Live) 2018 · Live · Vogon Future Shock Live – Live at Yumiuri Land Open East Theatre 1984 2022 · Live Live in Chicago 1977 2022 · Live · HI_Q
1981‐07‐26: Den‐en Coliseum, Tokyo, JP · Live
Baraka
Day Dreams · Live
Fraze Pavilion, Kettering: 2005/06/09 · Live

Also plays on

Albums where Herbie Hancock is credited as a sideman

Standards written by Herbie Hancock

TitleKeyFormGroove
Watermelon Man F major A · 16 Even eighths
Butterfly F minor AAB · 44 Funk
Maiden Voyage D major AABA · 32 Even eighths
Dolphin Dance E♭ major ABCD · 34 Medium swing
Chameleon B♭ minor AABB · 16 Funk
Cantaloupe Island F minor A · 16 Rock/pop
Driftin' E♭ major AABA · 33 Medium swing
The Sorcerer D♭ major A · 16 Up-tempo swing
Tell Me A Bedtime Story C major ABCDA · 45 Funk
The Maze E minor AA · 28 Medium swing
Eye of the Hurricane F minor AB · 27 Up-tempo swing
One Finger Snap E♭ major A · 20 Up-tempo swing
Speak Like A Child A minor ABAA · 52 Bossa nova
Toys D minor AB · 16 Medium swing
Oliloqui Valley C major AA · 28 Even eighths

Analysed solos by Herbie Hancock

  • Agitationpiano · 294 BPM · · 20.22.01.1965
  • Dolorespiano · 282 BPM · · 24-25.10.1966
  • Gingerbread Boypiano · 286 BPM · · 24-25.10.1966
  • Orbitspiano · 265 BPM · · 24-25.10.1966
  • Hand Jivepiano · 262 BPM · · 7./22./23.06, 19.07.1967

Teacher of

Awards

Books about Herbie Hancock

Listen on Spotify

Frequently asked questions

What instrument does Herbie Hancock play?

Herbie Hancock is known for playing piano, flute, musical keyboard and synthesizer.

When and where was Herbie Hancock born?

Herbie Hancock was born 12 April 1940 in Chicago.

What are Herbie Hancock's best-known albums?

Albums in our database include Takin’ Off (1962), My Point of View (1963), Empyrean Isles (1964), Inventions & Dimensions (1964) and Maiden Voyage (1965).

External links

Data compiled from open sources; see the source links below. Spotted an error? Let us know.