Herbie Hancock - The Imagine Project CD Review - Pop Or Jazz?
What do Paul Simon, Pink, Dave Matthews, John Legend, and Christina Aguilera all have in common? The celebrated jazz keyboardist Herbie Hancock.
First of all, we can look back and see that crossing over into the pop/rock universe is certainly not new to Herbie Hancock.
His 1969 collaboration with Miles Davis on "In a Silent Way" will leave no doubt that the jazz keyboardist made sure many years ago that pop and jazz would play very nicely together when he was involved with it.
During the 1970s in particular, fusion (the combination of jazz and rock) was especially popular, and it was in this era that the artist received his own fusion success with the hit album "Head Hunters" released in 1973.
Fast-forward to the 21st Century, and we find that Hancock is still not afraid to embrace the pop/rock world.
In 2005, he created an impressive pop/world music work entitled "Possibilities", and in 2007 released the award winning collection called "River: The Joni Letters".
It was on these later works that the well-known keyboardist gathered up an impressive list of extremely talented pop/rock artists, and created works that were undeniably pop in nature.
Still this was music which held to an artful, understated jazz vibe, and showcased his own brand of jazz piano virtuosity.
On "The Imagine Project"(2010), Herbie Hancock continues this pop/rock/world music mixed with jazz theme by again working with top-level rock and pop artists, and mixing them in with a bevy of accomplished musicians.
Produced by the bassist Larry Klein, "The Imagine Project" features a who's-who of celebrated international recording artists including Céu, Los Lobos, Dave Matthews, Lionel Loueke, John Legend, Pink, Juanes, Indie Arie, K'naan, The Cheiftains, and many more.
Traditionalists may have some negative things to say about this album because it strays away from the musician's earlier jazz works.
But as a musical artist, Herbie Hancock has proved that he continues to embrace music as an art form, with all of its diversity.
With "The Imagine Project", Herbie Hancock shows us that it is still possible to create thoughtful and contemporary music as art - while embracing peaceful togetherness and global responsibility.
The Tracks: 1.
Imagine 2.
Don't Give Up 3.
Tempo De Amor 4.
Space Captain 5.
The Times They Are A-Changin' 6.
La Tierra 7.
Tamatant Tilay/Exodus 8.
Tomorrow Never Knows 9.
A Change Is Gonna Come 10.
The Song Goes On
First of all, we can look back and see that crossing over into the pop/rock universe is certainly not new to Herbie Hancock.
His 1969 collaboration with Miles Davis on "In a Silent Way" will leave no doubt that the jazz keyboardist made sure many years ago that pop and jazz would play very nicely together when he was involved with it.
During the 1970s in particular, fusion (the combination of jazz and rock) was especially popular, and it was in this era that the artist received his own fusion success with the hit album "Head Hunters" released in 1973.
Fast-forward to the 21st Century, and we find that Hancock is still not afraid to embrace the pop/rock world.
In 2005, he created an impressive pop/world music work entitled "Possibilities", and in 2007 released the award winning collection called "River: The Joni Letters".
It was on these later works that the well-known keyboardist gathered up an impressive list of extremely talented pop/rock artists, and created works that were undeniably pop in nature.
Still this was music which held to an artful, understated jazz vibe, and showcased his own brand of jazz piano virtuosity.
On "The Imagine Project"(2010), Herbie Hancock continues this pop/rock/world music mixed with jazz theme by again working with top-level rock and pop artists, and mixing them in with a bevy of accomplished musicians.
Produced by the bassist Larry Klein, "The Imagine Project" features a who's-who of celebrated international recording artists including Céu, Los Lobos, Dave Matthews, Lionel Loueke, John Legend, Pink, Juanes, Indie Arie, K'naan, The Cheiftains, and many more.
Traditionalists may have some negative things to say about this album because it strays away from the musician's earlier jazz works.
But as a musical artist, Herbie Hancock has proved that he continues to embrace music as an art form, with all of its diversity.
With "The Imagine Project", Herbie Hancock shows us that it is still possible to create thoughtful and contemporary music as art - while embracing peaceful togetherness and global responsibility.
The Tracks: 1.
Imagine 2.
Don't Give Up 3.
Tempo De Amor 4.
Space Captain 5.
The Times They Are A-Changin' 6.
La Tierra 7.
Tamatant Tilay/Exodus 8.
Tomorrow Never Knows 9.
A Change Is Gonna Come 10.
The Song Goes On
