Search - Herbie Hancock :: Directions in Music: Live at Massey Hall

Noisy and Pretentious

Spyder | Napa, CA, USA | 08/26/2005

(2 out of 5 stars)

"OK, I must be in the distinct minority here, but this is an album that is difficult to listen to, and somewhat avant garde. I suppose the bulk of the reviewers here as well as the cheering crowd in Massey Hall are more sophisticated than I. I've been listening to jazz for over 40 years, had my own jazz radio show and play a little myself. I've enjoyed Herbie Hancock and respect his contributions. I've seen him live twice, once with the Headhunters in 1975 and again about 4 or 5 years ago with Wayne Shorter. Hancock has gone through many phases. I didn't get Mwandishi or Rockit with that guitar/keyboard contraption. Also, I didn't get the performance with Wayne Shorter with all the meandering and drifting. My sense at that time was he is the star, and if you don't get it, tough cookies.

Now we get some superb jazz performers doing their thing, with more meandering, squawking, off key sounding horns (as if they were sucking lemons) and we're supposed to cheer about it. So great, they've made their names, they can screw around with these bizarre arrangements, but I'm not obligated to pretend I like it."