Herbie Hancock - Possibilities

Peterdubya · September-7th-2005, 02:36 PM

Herbie has a new CD, with a lot of money spent on guest stars.
Sting, Christina Aguliara, Paul Simon, Jon Mayer, Carlos Santana, Angilique Kidjo, and yes, many, many more.

Pee Yew. It's pretty darned bad, and what's the point?

Will Christina's fans buy it? No, she sings a Stevie Wonder tine.

Will Jon Mayer's fans buy it? No, it's not his usual fare.

Will Herbie's fans buy it? I doubt it.

Squaredancecalling Steve · September-7th-2005, 02:43 PM

I had this in my hands at Borders the other day and it looked like it had... well, possibilities. But the line-up made me think of Herbie's Gershwin's World, which mostly didn't work for me. Glad to hear I didn't miss much by leaving it in the racks.

OTOH, I'm enjoying the hell out of Herbie on Bobby Hutcherson's newly rereleased "Oblique".

Valerie · September-7th-2005, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peterdubya

Herbie has a new CD, with a lot of money spent on guest stars.
Sting, Christina Aguliara, Paul Simon, Jon Mayer, Carlos Santana, Angilique Kidjo, and yes, many, many more.

Pee Yew. It's pretty darned bad, and what's the point?

Will Christina's fans buy it? No, she sings a Stevie Wonder tine.

Will Jon Mayer's fans buy it? No, it's not his usual fare.

Will Herbie's fans buy it? I doubt it.

however, the publicity machinery is working strongly on its behalf! two positive blurbs in two issues of people magazine so far, and i forget where i also saw something else that was championing it - even said it will probably win multiple grammys (maybe it was billboard)!

Peterdubya · September-7th-2005, 04:41 PM

I saw a TV commerical for it the other night....
Jazz it aint (at least Gershwin's World was 'jazzy')

BFrank · September-7th-2005, 04:46 PM

The only thing I could say in defense of this is that it's not meant for an audience like us.

kedoane · September-7th-2005, 05:06 PM

I agree with you, BFrank. I did buy the CD and I feel that I wasted my money on this.

I just hope that this won't be programmed on KSJS.

RainyDay · September-7th-2005, 05:12 PM

I guess I am only the person who really enjoyed Gershwin's World. Haven't heard anything from the latest record.

Peterdubya · September-7th-2005, 05:25 PM

I liked Gershwin's World a lot.

This is not Gershwin's World.... it's a pop CD....

Valerie · September-7th-2005, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RainyDay

I guess I am only the person who really enjoyed Gershwin's World. Haven't heard anything from the latest record.

if i remember accurately(!), i also enjoyed some of it.

RainyDay · September-7th-2005, 06:06 PM

Okay. I seem to remember that Gershwin's World gets a lot of abuse heaped on it whenever the subject comes up. I like it a lot. Haven't heard the latest but I will sneak a listen the next time I'm at Virgin or Borders.

Sergio Zamora · September-7th-2005, 06:43 PM

Sounds like Hancock is trying to do the same thing Santana did when he made those pop albums. I'm kinda curious to hear this, though not curious enough to buy it (at full price at least).

Mike Schwartz · September-7th-2005, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sergio Zamora

Sounds like Hancock is trying to do the same thing Santana did when he made those pop albums. I'm kinda curious to hear this, though not curious enough to buy it (at full price at least).

I don't think I'd have to be Kreskin to predict that these will be in the used bins pretty soon, and cheap too.

Peterdubya · September-7th-2005, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sergio Zamora

Sounds like Hancock is trying to do the same thing Santana did when he made those pop albums. I'm kinda curious to hear this, though not curious enough to buy it (at full price at least).

You nailed it.
I read an article somewhere saying that Herbie told Carlos Santana that he wanted to make an album like "Supernatural"

RainyDay · September-7th-2005, 07:25 PM

But I liked Supernatural too! My family had a Grammy Party the night of the Grammys that year to celebrate Carlos' nominations. I brought magic bars, we had beef stir fry! What's wrong with you people!

The Eric Claption tune on Supernatural was great. There were some nice dance jams on that record. Now I really want to hear this new Hancock CD. Even if it is pop, it has to be better than most other pop music out there. It's Herbie fer cryin' out loud.

Peterdubya · September-7th-2005, 08:11 PM

I just wanna know what 'magic bars' are.
I may want some.....

Oh, and I think Supernatural is a better record.

Squaredancecalling Steve · September-7th-2005, 08:38 PM

"Possibilities" was getting headline treatment at the Starbucks I just left -- effusive praise on the blackboard they usually reserve for the coffees or desserts of the day.

RainyDay · September-8th-2005, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peterdubya

I just wanna know what 'magic bars' are.
I may want some......

Magic Bars: Layers of butter, ground up graham crackers, sweetened condensed milk, chocolate chips, cocoanut, and pecans. Bake them, sinfully good. I normally make them, and chocolate chip cookes, around the holidays. If you want, I'll add you to the list.

Pete C · September-8th-2005, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RainyDay

Magic Bars: Layers of butter, ground up graham crackers, sweetened condensed milk, chocolate chips, cocoanut, and pecans.

Surely there's room for one more ingredient.

Squaredancecalling Steve · September-8th-2005, 01:51 PM

Yeah, but that's the "secret" ingredient.

Jazzooo · September-8th-2005, 01:52 PM

It's not as if it's Herbie's first attempt at making a pop record. Remember Sunlight from the late 70s? I do!

Peterdubya · September-8th-2005, 01:55 PM

Jazzoo, please, we're talking snacks here.

Valerie · September-8th-2005, 06:19 PM

Herbie Hancock "Possibilities" In-Stores Now

"Possibilities", the new CD by Herbie Hancock, is the musical event of the year. This CD is a series of inspired encounters between the multi-genre master Herbie Hancock and some of the most gifted vocalists and songwriters of the last three decades. With guests including Santana, John Mayer, Christina Aguilera and Paul Simon, collaboration has been an essential part of Herbie's astonishingly wide-ranging career ever since he was invited, at the age of 23, to join the celebrated Miles Davis quintet.

Throughout his career, Herbie has won ten Grammy awards, an Academy Award, had platinum selling albums, and has been a pioneering recording artist in jazz, fusion, and hip-hop. He has segued effortlessly from jazz to R&B to space-age funk, and now to what could arguably be his finest work of art, "Possibilities." This album will appeal to pop fans, jazz fans, young fans, older fans, men, women. In other words, "Possibilities" appeals to MUSIC FANS!

"Possibilities" is in-stores now, but it is also available on Rhapsody, Real Networks' Digital Music Service. Non-Rhapsody account holders can sign up for a free account and listen to "Possibilities"
here: http://www.rhapsody.com

bolded added by me!

RainyDay · September-8th-2005, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valerie

...could arguably be his finest work of art...

bolded added by me!

Hmmm, I'll reserve judgment until I hear it but that does seem a teensy bit hyperbolic.

Mike Schwartz · September-8th-2005, 07:50 PM

NOT if you're selling it, and not this word around here [**arguably**] ;-))

bigtiny · September-12th-2005, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RainyDay

I guess I am only the person who really enjoyed Gershwin's World. Haven't heard anything from the latest record.

I really like Gershwin's World...I was especially knocked out by Joni Mitchell's rendition of 'Lover Man'....I can't believe she retired! She was just getting her voice!

bigtiny

Valerie · September-12th-2005, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Schwartz

NOT if you're selling it, and not this word around here [**arguably**] ;-))

"could arguably be his finest work of art"

i happened to see herbie last week and told him about this publicity and quoted the above phrase, adding my sentiments that i certainly didn't know if i'd agree with it and that i doubted that this cd could possibly compete with some of his past achievements! all i can tell you is that he just threw his head back and laughed long and loudly. interpret that as you will! lol!!

btw, he showed me a full-page ad for the cd that ran in that day's n.y. times on the last page of the first section!! big bucks, for sure!

clarke68 · September-12th-2005, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peterdubya

Oh, and I think Supernatural is a better record.

I agree, Supernatural at least still sounded like a Santana record, albeit one with guest artists. Possibilities sounds more like a K-Tel collection of the hits of the last 10-20 years, but with Herbie Hancock sitting in on piano.

Now, I have no problem with Herbie making a pop album, this (most likely) has better keyboard playing than any other pop release this year, and the arrangements are interesting in places. I could see this winning a Grammy, if only for "Year's Most Egregious Promotional Campaign". Nice to see Herbie's got a sense of humor about it.

wasabcl11 · September-12th-2005, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RainyDay

I guess I am only the person who really enjoyed Gershwin's World. Haven't heard anything from the latest record.

You're not alone. I enjoyed it, too. I'm sure "Possibilities" isn't bad, bad, but it's definitely a novelty album. The way I see it, the more albums Herbie sells, the better. He deserves the recognition and record sales more than any pop artist today.

Noj · September-12th-2005, 10:25 PM

Although not credited, I've heard Herbie played all the keys on Michael Jackson's Off The Wall. If true, that would be his best pop material to date.

burning dog · September-13th-2005, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noj

Although not credited, I've heard Herbie played all the keys on Michael Jackson's Off The Wall. If true, that would be his best pop material to date.

It's also Jacksons best record by a mile!