Going into this, if I remember correctly, I wasn't a huge fan of this percussion-based album.
Succotash: sometimes seems like Herbie's throwing stuff on the wall. Not quite "experimental", but him and just percussion and bass. Just kinda...dull.
Triangle: More of a straight-ahead jazz tune mostly, kind of enjoyable, but meandering as well, and at points, HH seems to just get stuck on a note.
Jack Rabbit: Ok. Again, HH seems to get stuck on a note/pattern.
Mimosa: still kind of pokey.
A Jump Ahead: More my speed.
Album rating: NGB, at least for me.
Herbie- Piano
Donald Byrd- Trumpet
Grachan Moncur III- trombone
Hank Mobley- tenor sax
Grant Green- guitar
Chuck Israels- Bass
Tony Williams- drums
Blind Man, Blind Man- OK, kind of repetitive
A Tribute to Someone- liked this one
King Cobra- liked the propulsive nature of the piano in this one
The Pleasure Is Mine- kind of like this one, nice and mellow
And What If I Don't Know- OK, like the guitar
Three out of five distinct songs isn't bad.
I rate this one AAA.
I'm going to listen to every album by Herbie Hancock this summer. Today, the first album, Takin' Off.
Freddie Hubbard- trumpet
Dexter Gordon- tenor sax
Butch Warren- double bass
Billy Higgins-drums
Herbie-piano
Watermelon Man- enjoyed more than before.
Three Bags Full- this one didn't really stick for me like it did previously.
Empty Pockets- nice, gentle, mellow shuffle.
The Maze- another nice, calm song
Driftin'- OK. Like TBF, don't hate it but don't get excited for it, although it does get nice after about three and a half minutes, so kind of half like it.
Alone and I- a lightly treading snoozer, although jazz enthusiasts probably don't see it that way.
Watermelon Man (alternate)- I'm not too crazy about the alternate takes. Nice solo by Gordon, which I think is the difference.
Three Bags Full (alternate)- eh. Neither love nor hate.
Empty Pockets (alternate)- I like the original and this one is nice too.
For my own enjoyment, I'm going to use my rating system:
Very solid
Solid
AAA (all right, all right, all right)
NGB (not great, Bob)
This one rates AAA. Three songs that I'd like to listen to again, two that I don't hate and Alone and I, which I don't love but don't hate.
I'll get the album if it makes more sense to buy the whole thing, otherwise just the three songs.
