Herbie Hancock
Herbie Hancock
Herbert Jeffrey "Herbie" Hancockis an American pianist, keyboardist, bandleader, composer and actor. Starting his career with Donald Byrd, he shortly thereafter joined the Miles Davis Quintet where Hancock helped to redefine the role of a jazz rhythm section and was one of the primary architects of the post-bop sound. He was one of the first jazz musicians to embrace synthesizers and funk music. Hancock's music is often melodic and accessible; he has had many songs "cross over" and achieved success...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionPianist
Date of Birth12 April 1940
CityChicago, IL
CountryUnited States of America
It's not just a collection of overdubs, ... Every artist on the record gave me their heart - and each track is a surprise. This album was about interaction, freedom and looseness. It may not have the notes of jazz, but it was created in the spirit of jazz.
It's primitive now, but when you get to the point where you could see someone's face on your screen while you perform with them, that's a step in the right direction.
That's one of the reasons for the title of the record, Future 2 Future, because here they are creating kind of a new musical approach, underground approach, but coming out of what used to be underground but what has become popular, which is the whole hip-hop scene.
I've got to learn how to do this. That's my instrument, and he can do it. Why can't I?
I've had a lot of music in my own head.
Still, when I finally left Miles in '68 and got my own band, it was a logical step; because anybody that left Miles always had their own band.
It's a statement of our position, which is that we are not making this record in order to honor technology; we're not slaves to that, we don't want to be slaves to that.
It was put together in layers. The disadvantage is that there isn't really any interaction together, so you have to manufacture that interaction to make it believable.
I wanted to work with artists who were strong enough personalities that they'd all have something of their own to bring. My foundation is jazz, which is all about interaction. Jazz gives you a lot of tools to play with.
They brought what they do to the table, and I brought what I do to the table,
It was interesting putting this record together, because I was putting it together with musicians who claim that I was a big influence on the music they're making now.
It might have been somewhat derivative otherwise, and I'm not the kind of person who's satisfied with being derivative.
The other reason is the concept of attitude. I didn't want to appear angry, but it's okay to appear serious or to not smile.
When I'm sensitive to the circumstances surrounding me, then I can be inspired by them or use them in whatever I may be creating.