"Manhattan (Island Of Lights And Love)" won a 1997 Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition.
Jazz / Post-Bop; Contemporary Jazz
Recorded: Manhattan Center Studios, New York, New York and Signet Sound, West Hollywood, California
Herbie Hancock - piano
Michael Brecker - soprano & tenor saxophones
Lester Lovitt
Oscar Brashear - trumpet, flugelhorn
Suzette Moriarty - French horn
Maurice Spears - bass trombone
Sam Riney
William E. Green - flute, alto flute
Gary Herbig - flute, bass clarinet
Gene Cipriano - oboe, English horn
Lili R. Haydn
Margaret R. Wootn
Richard S. Greene - violin
Cameron L. Stone - cello
John Scofield - acoustic & electric guitars, electric sitar
Dave Holland - acoustic bass
Jack DeJohnette - drums, electronic percussion
Don Alias - percussion
On first glance this record would not seem to have much promise from a jazz standpoint. Herbie Hancock performs a set of tunes which include numbers from the likes of Peter Gabriel, Stevie Wonder, Sade, Paul Simon, Prince, the Beatles ("Norwegian Wood") and Kurt Cobain. However by adding vamps, reharmonizing the chord structures, sometimes quickly discarding the melodies and utilizing an all-star band, Hancock was able to transform the potentially unrewarding music into creative jazz. Hancock, who sticks to acoustic piano, shows that he is still in prime form, taking quite a few fiery solos. With Michael Brecker on tenor and surprisingly effective soprano, guitarist John Scofield, bassist Dave Holland, drummer Jack DeJohnette and percussionist Don Alias (along with an occasional horn or string section that was dubbed in later), the results are often quite hard-swinging and certainly never predictable. Although it is doubtful that any of these songs will ever become a jazz standard, Herbie Hancock has successfully created a memorable set of "new" music. Well worth investigating.
---Scott Yanow, allmusic |
