HERBIE HANCOCK — Directstep (review)

HERBIE HANCOCK — Directstep album cover Album · 1979 · RnB Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
snobb
This rare Hancock's album was released in Japan only so even many artist fans aren't familiar with music recorded on it. Differently from many others Hancock's studio releases, this album doesn't contain new material, but just three re-recorded compositions,presented on other albums (album's opener "Butterfly" comes from "Thrust","I Thought It Was You" was released on "Sunlight" and the only new song for time of "Directstep" release was "Shiftless Shuffle", later was included on "Mr.Hands" though).

The real reason why this album was recorded is more technological,than artistic - Japanese Sony/CBS decided to use new "Direct to Disc" recording technology for one of the first ever music CD released and asked Hancock to play some his compositions in their studio in Tokyo.Hancock used Headhunters((Bennie Maupin, reeds; Paul Jackson, bass; Bill Summers, percussion)supported with guitarist Ray Obiedo and drummer Alphonse Mouzon for this recording session,quite unusual step was using second keyboardist Webster Lewis (understandable because of "live" character of recording though).

"Butterfly" light funky version is absolute gem, "Shiftless Shuffle" is more groove than usual version (from "Mr.Hands")and extra-long version of "I Thought It Was You" (almost 16 minutes long!)still strongly reminds disco- repetitive rhythmical structure of original, but spiced with light funk sounds a bit more attractive (with lots of not so attractive plasticky synth sound though). Sound quality and mix are excellent with deep groovy bass and drum pulsation,probably a bit overloaded with (fashionable for the time) synth passages.Not essential album, but really interesting release for Hancock fans, unfortunately too rare and expensive to become more popular or better known.
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