Maiden Voyage

George Coleman (tenor sax), Freddie Hubbard (trumpet), Herbie Hancock (piano), Ron Carter (bass) and Tony Williams (drums). From the album Maiden Voyage (1965).

This is a post-bop-style conceptual album intended to create an oceanic atmosphere and musicians develop the idea using space and tidal dynamics. “Maiden Voyage”, “The Eye of the Hurracane” and “Dolphin Dance” have become jazz standards. Hancock achieves a perfect balance between accessible jazz and risky hard bop. At that time he had already been with Miles Davis for two years and had integrated his modal experiments. In addition, Carter and Williams, the remaining members of Davis’s rhythm section, also participate, giving a sense of cohesion.

All the themes were composed by Hancock, conceived to leave plenty of room for the provocative and unpredictable solos, tonal textures and harmonies of the group. The music is accessible thanks to Hancock’s sober melodies and the rapport and good taste of the group. In short, all the necessary ingredients are gathered here to make Maiden Voyage a brilliant album that shows Hancock at his best as a leader, soloist and composer.

The rhythm section makes an introduction and then Coleman and Hubbard come in to expose almost the whole theme in unison. Coleman begins his solo calmly, but then shows his most eloquent and creative side. He is followed by Hubbard with well-chosen phrases and courage to try to play different things. Next Hancock enters with an original melodic line full of contrasts imitating the waves of the sea. To close, the group reexposes the theme and Hubbard continues playing some notes fading out.