Herbie Hancock -- The Essential Herbie Hancock (Columbia/Legacy)

Few keyboardists have had as prestigious on-the-job training as Hancock. Among his earliest associates were Donald Byrd and Mongo Santamaria -- who made a huge hit out of Hancock's "Watermelon Man." However the version of the song captured here is from the author's solo debut Takin' Off (1962) with a line-up that includes Dexter Gordon (sax) and Freddie Hubbard (trumpet). Other notable merging of talents can be heard as Hancock helps out on a redux of Thelonious Monk's "'Round Midnight," from Sonny Rollins (sax) Now's The Time (1964) release. And what omnibus of the artist would be considered comprehensive without props to his five-year ('63 -- '68) involvement in the Miles Davis Quintet on the Miles Smiles (1966) number "Circle." Hancock continued to keep his Miles bandmates close at hand for his own work throughout the '60s as well. With the exception of Davis himself, practically all of the Quintet was featured on "Cantaloupe Island" and "Maiden Voyage."

His unmistakable amalgam of funk and R&B with open jazz arrangements likewise became sought after for scores on the silver screen. The stylish and laid back "Joanna's Theme" -- from the soundtrack to Death Wish (1974) is indicative of Hancock's strengths and mood-capturing capacities. Fans of jazz fusion are treated to "Hidden Shadows," "Chameleon" and "Butterfly" from his critically and commercially lauded mid '70s material. Plus, a few nods to his former cohorts on the remake of the Miles Davis standard "Milestones" -- in a trio setting with Ron Carter (bass) and Tony Williams (drums). A further remnant from that confab is on Hancock's "Finger Painting," with Freddie Hubbard (trumpet) and Wayne Shorter (sax) completing the V.S.O.P (1979) configuration.

On the other side of the musical spectrum, Hancock would get introduced to an entire new generation of listeners thanks to the enormous -- and perhaps unexpected -- global success of "Rockit." Even though the up-tempo funk/synth excursion had taken dance floors by storm, Middle American suburbia was now getting a glimpse of Hancock's genius thanks to MTV's incessant telecast of the admittedly addictive music video.
The Essential Herbie Hancock is recommended for the curious enthusiast as it encompasses as much of the subject's wide range of styles as could be adequately covered on two discs.