HERBIE HANCOCK JAPANESE PRESSING SERIES REISSUED, FEATURES THE HEADHUNTERS & THE HERBIE HANCOCK TRIO

HERBIE HANCOCK - FLOOD

Live mid 70s genius from Herbie Hancock and the Headhunters – one of Herbie's greatest records ever, and only ever issued in Japan! Herbie's playing in fine funky form with Bennie Maupin, Paul Jackson, Mike Clark, and Bill Summers – and the record stands to this day some of the best work this team ever set to wax in the 70s. The whole session's live, peformed with amazing energy, and it's beautifully recorded – with Hancock on acoustic piano, Rhodes, Arp and clavinet, Maupin on saxes, clarinet and flute, Clark on drums, Summers on percussion and Blackbird McKnight on guitar. Titles include "Actual Proof", "Spank A Lee", "Hang Up Your Hang Ups", and good remakes of "Chameleon" and "Watermelon Man". (Blue Spec CD2.) ~ Dusty Groove

HERBIE HANCOCK – HERBIE HANCOCK TRIO

An excellent Japanese-only album by Herbie – featuring all acoustic playing, recorded in San Francisco, in 1977 – in an incredible trio setting with Ron Carter on bass and Tony Williams on drums! Really, really wonderful stuff – right at home among many of Herbie's electric recordings at the time! Despite the absence of electric keyboards, there's a bit of a light funky groove on some tracks – with lots of warm bass sounds from Carter, and some beautiful light work on the drum kit from Williams. Titles include "Watch It", "Speak Like A Child", "Look", "Milestones" and "Whatcha Waitin For". All tracks are long, and the record's got a nice sweet mellow vibe! (Blue Spec CD2.) ~ Dusty Groove

HERBIE HANCOCK – HERBIE HANCOCK TRIO WITH RON CARTER / TONY WILLIAMS

A brilliant Japanese-only album from Herbie – quite different than his US work at the time! Although the Herbie in America in 1981 was very heavily involved in electric keyboard work and more R&B-oriented styles of expression – this Japanese-recorded Herbie's an all-acoustic one, working here in a great trio with Ron Carter and Tony Williams, grooving nicely on some long lyrically soulful tracks! The record's straight and sweet – and Herbie's work on piano is stunning – easily flowing with inventive solos that never cease to delight. And the warm accompaniment he gets from Carter and Williams really make the album sparkle – easily the best sort of session of its sort you'll find from the time. Titles include "Stablemates", "Dolphin Dance", "A Slight Smile", and "La Maison Goree". (Blue Spec CD2.)  ~ Dusty Groove