The many faces of Herbie Hancock

Preeminent Jazz pianist and composer Herbie Hancock received three more Grammy nominations this year -- for album of the year, best contemporary jazz album and best jazz instrumental solo. Tonight, he added to the 10 he already has by winning album of the year for "River: The Joni Letters."

Hancock has had a career that has spanned, to employ the cliche, the sublime to the ridiculous; high art to the crassly commercial. There was never a slow decline, as with so many other important jazz artists of the '60s. He's managed to mix it up and come out smelling of roses and earning the respect of everyone in the industry.

Here is a look at the enormously varied musical personae of Hancock over the years, including some noteworthy past appearances at the Grammys:

Our hero as the earnest post-bop miniaturist with a penchant for Maurice Ravel and Bill Evans and holding his own in Miles Davis' second quintet with Davis, Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter and Tony Williams [1963-1968]. Video circa 1965.

In the '70s, Hancock becomes a pioneer in electro-funk with the Head Hunters, channeling James Brown and Sly Stone. Dig "Chameleon" live in Chicago, 1974. Nice Afro. Video

In the '80s, he became a divided soul. On one hand, scratch and cheese "Rockit," with its innovative video on MTV.

Or you could have watched it inserted into a medley with Stevie Wonder, Howard Jones and Thomas Dolby in the 1985 Grammys. Appalling? Perhaps. Video.
But then he returns to classic form with the VSOP Quintet, featuring the original members of Miles' Quintet. In this version, VSOP has Freddie Hubbard in the Miles slot on trumpet and Joe Henderson as Wayne Shorter on tenor sax. Live in Tokyo, 1986. Check out Tony Williams! Video

Hancock never ceased to produce in the ensuing 20 years, but his 2006 Grammys performance with Christina Aguilera doing Leon Russell's "A Song for You" was memorable. Listen to his chording behind Aguilera. Video
Finally, here is his utterly transformed version of Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now," for which he is nominated for Best Jazz Instrumental.

--Casey Dolan

Comments

[Iris M. Gross]

Well, he won for Record of the Year. This win legitimizes the Grammys for me, that GOOD music rules out over CURRENT music. This hasn't been the case, lately. I downloaded from iTunes several songs from River, and it's exquisite, my favorite being Tina Turner's take on Edith and the Kingpin. Herbie Hancock deserves the Award. Glasses raised to jazz music!