In Hancock and Hubbard one finds two imaginative instrumentalists, each prepared to stretch his talents to the limit in the quest for the ultimate in their own concept of jazz. The pianist has conceived his Empyrean Isles in the loosest, freest form that he could, like the poet stretching for the source of light in the Grecian concept of these mythical places. For free form to succeed, one must have a sound framework, and here Hancock seems to have succeeded where others have failed. He is undoubtedly helped by the fact that the number of musicians is limited, and the internal communication problem is consequently reduced.
Snap produces nothing momentous, but a bounding rhythmic tension which I used to associate with Dizzy’s early music. Freddy Hubbard is not really of this school, but his facile approach to the trumpet seems to carry as much of Dizzy’s influence as it does tonally of Miles’s. The piano wails like Bud at his peak, and the stabbing bass chords, irregular but logical in pattern, carry the same frantic authority. A closing thrash by drummer Williams comes almost as an anticlimax.
Valley opens with a singing bass figure, two clear statements by the soloists, and infinite variations, if one is permitted to use the word, by Herbie. Ron Carter achieves some most unusual sounds on the bass in his solo, appearing to bow and pluck at the same time! Cantaloupe brings out a most infectious rhythm, some superbly toned cornet sounds by Freddie, and some piano which Hancock might have taken straight from a Horace Silver piece.
The piece of resistance is undoubtedly The Egg, a theme laid gracefully and painstakingly by Hubbard, in a nest skilfully prepared by Carter and Williams, and hatched with infinite care and loving attention by Hancock. Carter’s lengthy bowed solo must rank as the ‘furthest out’ bass solo ever put on record, while the out-spoken Ravel influence in Hancock’s solo sheds some light on his possible sources of inspiration. I regard this as important music in any context, but certainly unsuitable for the superficial listener.
Discography
One Finger Snap; Oliloqui Valley (15¾ min) – Cantaloupe Island; The Egg (19¾ min)
Freddy Hubbard (cnt); Herbie Hancock (p); Ron Carter (bs); Anthony Williams (d).
(Blue Note BN4175 12inLP 45s. 3d.)
