Introduction
In 2006, Herbie Hancock and his band played live at the AVO Session festival in Basel, Switzerland. The show was a commercial event where Hancock performed as an international guest. Herbie Hancock does not need a lengthy introduction — his 14 Grammy awards and career spanning over five decades speak for themselves (Herbie Hancock, n.d.). The Swiss public had an opportunity to see one of the most influential jazz artists in action.
Lineup
- Herbie Hancock: piano, keyboards, keytar;
- Lionel Loueke: guitar, vocals on Virgin Forest;
- Nathan East: bass, vocals on Stitched Up;
- Vinnie Colaiuta: drums.
Piece-by-Piece Performance Review
Actual Proof, the first piece of the concert, was a powerful introduction to the show. The opening part was dominated by a simple yet groovy and incredibly catchy bass line by Nathan East. After that, the composition picked up the tempo as Herbie Hancock’s piano took the lead. However, I was most impressed by the chaotic drumming in the last third of the piece (Jazz3+, 2014). If Vinnie Colaiuta was improvising, that would make an already powerful breakdown even more impressive.
Watermelon Man, the second piece, followed suit in terms of structure, as the bass dominated the intro. Herbie Hancock layered keyboard sound over the chaotic rhythm section during the first part of the composition. Then he switched to the keytar to play a long, masterful solo, making the crowd cheer mid-song (Jazz3+, 2014). Lionel Loueke closed the piece with an emotional, smooth guitar improvisation. Overall, Watermelon Man combined the sophisticated elegance of jazz with the catchiness of pop music.
Stitched Up, the third song on the setlist, featured vocals, unlike the two instrumental jazz pieces that came before. Nathan East told the story of a man who fell in love with a seemingly perfect woman and could not resist her charm. A catchy pop-style tune got spiced up in the middle with Hancock’s cheerful piano solo. The protagonist might have been heading into a world of pain, but he was undoubtedly happy. In that regard, Stitched Up told the story of darker, unhealthy love beautifully versed in a carefree music form.
Maiden Voyage, the fourth piece of the concert, immediately catches the listener’s attention with a calm and gentle piano intro. However, the song slowly picks up the tempo as other instruments come in. Drumming gets faster and more aggressive, and piano solos blaze like fire as excitement builds up. And then, the voyage ends with Loueke’s gentle guitar playing for a while and giving way to Hancock’s cheerful keyboard.
Virgin Forest, the fifth piece on the list, was unique — I was left almost speechless by how Lionel Loueke single-handedly portrayed the spirit of a tropical forest. He used his voice to impersonate animals and birds and played the guitar as a drum to convey the rhythm of wild nature (Jazz3+, 2014). After a few minutes, other band members joined a one-man orchestra, turning the composition into a classic jazz jam session.
Cantaloupe Island, the penultimate piece performed that evening, was an instrumental jazz jam with an upbeat tempo, piano solos, a juicy bass line, and relentless drumming. In that regard, the piece shares many similarities with Actual Proof. However, Cantaloupe Island had several unique elements, such as a memorable three-chord piano progression reappearing throughout the composition and an incredibly groovy bass line.
When the song was originally released in 1964, it was likely intended to be a more accessible, radio-friendly track for promoting Empyrean Isles, one of Hancock’s most experimental albums (Waring, 2022). Forty-two years later, Hancock and his fellow band members used their talent to improvise, turning Cantaloupe Island into a seven-minute-long highlight of the show.
Chameleon, the closing track of the show, followed a standing ovation given to the band by the crowd. Before playing this piece, Herbie Hancock took a minute to introduce other band members, commemorating their incredible performance (Jazz3+, 2014). In that regard, one can consider Cantaloupe Island an actual ending piece, whereas Chameleon, another famous song from Hancock’s discography, was a bonus for the people who demonstrated their appreciation. Herbie Hancock rewarded the crowd by taking the keytar for a second time to play Chameleon as a high-energy piece of electronic jazz. Other band members joined him to give the concert a powerful ending in the modern style of jazz music.
Opinion on Performers
Whereas Herbie Hancock was the band leader whose name and skills attracted the crowd, other band members were outstanding. In particular, I enjoyed the rhythm section—Nathan East’s bass, and Vinnie Colaiuta’s drums created a catchy foundation upon which Hancock could lay his solos. The band members demonstrated incredible chemistry and enjoyed themselves. This positive vibe was reflected in the crowd’s reaction—people cheered loudly after every piece and gave the band a standing ovation after the final beats of Cantaloupe Island.
The most impressive part for me was the chemistry and understanding between the band members. I have not compared all the pieces played in this concert to the studio versions. However, the difference between the live and the studio versions of Cantaloupe Island was borderline mind-boggling. I believe every piece played that evening might have featured powerful improvisations that required incredible talent and, if one can say so, an outstanding musical IQ.
More specifically, I enjoyed how Vinnie Colaiuta’s more energetic, aggressive drumming style was incorporated into smooth jazz tunes. Colaiuta is an accomplished drummer who has played various genres, from pop with Sting to hard rock with Frank Zappa and thrash metal with Megadeth (Discogs, n.d.). With his drumming, classic Herbie Hancock songs, such as Watermelon Man and Cantaloupe Island, found a new, truly exciting sound.
Throughout the concert, I was intrigued by what else these people could do with musical instruments. From the visual perspective, Herbie Hancock and his band played almost effortlessly, making jazz look like magic. The audience seemed enticed by their performance, and I can understand that sentiment. The band set the bar higher with each piece, eventually delivering the most powerful hit with a modernized rendition of Cantaloupe Island. In the end, the buildup reached its culmination, cementing the show as a fabulous feast of jazz music.
Conclusion
I enjoyed the concert’s flow and the musicians’ skill and versatility. Herbie Hancock and his band showed jazz in all its beauty, from calm and thoughtful piano parts to wild and energetic improvisations. All instruments sounded right as band members demonstrated their impressive skills.
Overall, this concert was a perfect fusion of classical music’s serious aesthetics and rock’s showmanship. Herbie Hancock’s band found a sweet spot between skillful musicianship and artistic expression. Ultimately, the band showcased jazz’s versatility and variety, which makes this style relevant throughout different eras of music.
References
Discogs. (n.d.). Vinnie Colaiuta. Web.
Herbie Hancock. (n.d.). Herbie Hancock: An introduction. Web.
Jazz3+. (2014). Herbie Hancock – Live in concert 2006 [Video]. YouTube. Web.
Waring, C. (2022). ‘Cantaloupe Island’: Herbie Hancock’s Soul-Jazz Evergreen. uDiscoverMusic. Web.