Herbie Hancock - Gershwin's World

Perhaps the most ambitious of album tributes to George Gershwin on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of his birth, Gershwin's World earns its title by encompassing not only jazz versions of key pop songs from his catalog and a version (with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra) of his Prelude in C-Sharp Minor but also reminding us of the composer's sources in everything from Ellington, W.C. Handy, and stride pianist James P. Johnson to Ravel. Those four are represented by versions of key pieces that affected Gershwin, in a bid to place his achievement in a context that is often discussed but perhaps too little listened to. This is an album that could have been a massive, pretentious failure; instead, with the likes of Wayne Shorter and a nearly unrecognizably torchy Joni Mitchell on hand, it's as close to a triumph as this type of thing reaches. --Rickey Wright Amazon.com

You will be enthralled

Herbie just won another Grammy last week with River: the Joni Letters, so I thought I'd come back to this, his last project on Verve.

You won't find so much of standard tribute fare on Gershwin's World. It's more of a theme for some real creativity. There are two rhythmic fragments (including the Overture) that fade in and out and leave you wanting more. There's someone singing Summertime and another song, but don't look at who it is until you've heard them. There's also a great scat singer and harmonica player guesting on W.C. Handy's St. Louis Blues, but again don't look at the notes, just listen.

What else? Just a few odda and enda like Gershwin's Lullabye, with a string orchestra backing up Herbie, and something called Piano Concerto in D by a guy named Ravel, a piece in 3/4 that Hancock has turned into something ethereally else. Also a few very cool jazz numbers that turn all of this into a subtle smooth treat for jazz and music lovers.

You will be enthralled, mesmerized and amazed by this work.
February 16, 2008

Open your ears shut your mouths

This record is smoking , every cut is really CREATIVE(the St louis blues GROOVES). So all you guys looking for a museum experience look elsewhere, of course it is not what Gerswin wrote initially but if you want just a copy of past music then listen to the original and stop complaining that it doesn't sound like Gershin, the aim was to sound like Hancock. If you're not happy with that buy a Marsalis record to hear people compying artists of the past with nothing new to say. August 5, 2006

Be ready to groove

I highly recommend it.
You'll want to play this album from start to finish. I bought this CD ten years ago, and it's still in my rotation. July 12, 2006

A very felt homage in Gershwin' s memory!

With motive of George Gershwin's centenary in 1998, it was evident Herbie Hancock should be another one of the privileged jazz musicians of extensive trajectory who simply could not be absent of this prestigious homage in Gershwin' s memory - without forget to Dave Gruisin, who made his personal tribute in 1993 with an anthological album -.

There are emblematic tracks along the album; The man I love and Summertime are played with enraptured inspiration. Embraceable you and Saint Louis Blues with the harmonic and voice of Steve Wonder is another outstanding piece.

The only minor default may found in the lovable Ravel' s Piano Concerto in G Major' s Second Movement. Hancok should have named Symphonic Variations on this section.

But this is an minor observation, taking into account the rest of this seductive and expressive rendition.


May 30, 2006

Wow!

I like this CD so much that i've ended up scratching it from over use. No it is not your typical Hancock 'sound' but what beautiful, imaginative and emotional work. His take on Ravel's Concerto for piano and orchestra brings me tears everytime I hear it.
I'm personally a big Gershwin fan and it's refreshing to hear such a different approach to great standards. I figure if you're going to play a song that everyone and their cousin has done - why not blow their top off and have a go at it. And that's exactly what Herbie did. Thank you for your creative genius! March 14, 2006

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