Herbie Hancock: One Finger Snap
Musicians:
Herbie Hancock (piano), Freddie Hubbard (cornet), Ron Carter (bass), Tony Williams (drums).
Composed by Herbie Hancock
.Recorded: Englewood Cliffs, NJ, June 17, 1964
Rating: 100/100 (learn more)
This was one of the first of Herbie’s tunes that I ended up transcribing; I love the way his lines are moving through the chords. It’s unique and innovative, bringing bebop to the next level of harmonic innovation. The composition is so open-ended harmonically, and the rhythm section sparkles as they follow Freddie Hubbard's solo and play over the changes. The chords are not the expected II-V-I type of changes that you find either in standards or in older bebop tunes. Every chord change is its own mode, its own area, and the way that Herbie defines and identifies each of these areas is so creative. He uses the harmonic areas as a springboard for these lines, but it doesn’t sound schematic at all—it’s fresh and inspired. A lot of it also has to do with Herbie's touch, and the rhythmic freedom of the solo, the fluidity of his lines.
Reviewer: Uri Caine
Tags: 1960s jazz · blue note · piano
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