In the Moment

Jazz is the Greatest of All Human Expressions

Fifty-one years ago, Herbie Hancock shattered sonic boundaries with Head Hunters, an album that infused more funk and dance grooves into jazz than anyone had imagined possible. A couple of Wednesdays ago at the Hollywood Bowl, he reunited with the surviving band members for the first time in half a century, to revisit the groundbreaking record that redefined jazz and became the genre's first platinum album.

Head Hunters was a transformative masterpiece by any standard, marking a pivotal era when musical boundaries were fearlessly pushed and redefined. The album pioneered the jazz-fusion movement, blending funk rhythms with electronic experimentation, and catapulted jazz into mainstream success with unprecedented commercial impact. Chameleon and Watermelon Man not only highlighted the ingenuity and technical brilliance of Hancock and his collaborators but also became anthems that have influenced generations of musicians across multiple genres.

At 84, Herbie Hancock is still a marvel of energy, focus and versatility. On Fender Rhodes and grand piano, his fingers move so fast, it’s almost cartoonish. And it’s hard to imagine another octogenarian strapping on a cumbersome Keytar, like Hancock does in concert.

Half a century on, Head Hunters remains a critical benchmark in Herbie's career and a dazzling declaration of jazz's evolving sound. There’s some audience video on YouTube of the Hollywood Bowl gig. And also from an engagement in Stern’s Grove near San Francisco by Herbie’s working group. Yes my friends, at 84, Herbie is still very active, performing all over the world.

Last year, Herbie’s group played in Paris and the entire concert is on YouTube. That configuration included: Herbie on keyboards; Elena Pinderhugues, flute and vocals; Lionel Loueke on guitar and vocals; James Genus, on bass, and Trevor Lawrence on drums.

They played Wayne Shorter’s immortal Footprints, in a new arrangement by trumpeter Terrence Blanchard.

Herbie still shakes the ground, proving his power to push boundaries and resonate as deeply as ever. The composition "Phoelix," which features his vocals and Keytar solos, showcases Herbie's inventive spirit, blending various genres in a way that is unmistakably his own. No matter the style, you always know it’s Herbie.