Maiden Voyage (Remastered)

There are so many details to luxuriate in when you listen to Herbie Hancock’s 1965 post bop masterpiece, Maiden Voyage. True to its title, Hancock’s fifth solo album evokes an enveloping aquatic atmosphere. Tony Williams’s extraordinary drumming creates a sea of sound that ebbs and flows in surprising ways. Trumpeter Freddie Hubbard’s assertive solos are full of nuance, flecked with multiple inflections. George Coleman, whose playing resides somewhere between Coltrane’s late hard bop and the intriguing melodicism of Wayne Shorter, is utterly assured on tenor saxophone. (Shorter would replace Coleman in Miles Davis’ band.) Ron Carter anchors the music with his fine tone and rhythmic grace. Then there is Hancock’s distinctive sense of harmony on display in his solos and the compositions, all of which he penned. The well-known title cut is a good example of how successfully the pianist combines accessibility with musical sophistication. Its syncopated theme is as catchy as a pop tune and the solos have a sense of focus and detail that is riveting. Maiden Voyage is a keeper start to finish.