{"product_id":"herbie-hancock-empyrean-isles","title":"HERBIE HANCOCK - EMPYREAN ISLES","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHerbie Hancock\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003edebuted on\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBlue Note\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ein 1962 and quickly established himself as both a remarkable pianist and a brilliant composer with three excellent albums—\u003cstrong\u003eTakin’ Off, My Point Of View,\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInventions \u0026amp; Dimensions\u003c\/strong\u003e—before making what is widely considered to be his first masterpiece:\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEmpyrean Isles\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRecorded in 1964, the album seemed to distill the full breadth of\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHancock’s\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eartistry into a sweeping 35-minute musical journey. Joining\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHancock\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eon the voyage were three of his closest collaborators: trumpeter\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFreddie Hubbard\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHancock’s Miles Davis Quintet\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ebandmates\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRon Carter\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eon bass and\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTony Williams\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eon drums. Each of the four distinctive original pieces\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHancock\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ecomposed for the date occupies its own unique space.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe quartet launches into the album opener\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e“One Finger Snap”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ewhich consists of a single opening line that leads directly into blistering improvisations by\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHubbard\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eHancock\u003c\/strong\u003e. The first side concludes with the beguiling\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“Oliloquy Valley”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ewhich conjures a mysterious and mystical vibe.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe flipside leads off with one of\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHancock’s\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003emost enduring themes,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“Cantaloupe Island,”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ewith its undulating groove and unforgettable melody, before moving into a more exploratory realm with\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e“The Egg,”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ean expansive 14-minute epic that flirts with the avant-garde and gives ample space for the musicians to let their imaginations run wild.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThis Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition is stereo, all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTracklist:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOne Finger Snap\u003cbr\u003eOliloqui Valley\u003cbr\u003eCantaloupe Island\u003cbr\u003eThe Egg\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Volcanic Vinyl","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53466179371308,"sku":null,"price":58.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/3947\/9852\/files\/hh_1db0e847-6a20-4bef-adac-2417836bf8bd.webp?v=1785031080","url":"https:\/\/volcanicvinyl.co.nz\/products\/herbie-hancock-empyrean-isles","provider":"Volcanic Vinyl","version":"1.0","type":"link"}