Search - Herbie Hancock :: Mr Hands

Timeless

Good Girl | New York | 10/06/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first heard the song "Spiraling Prism" when I was 15 years old. I never knew the name of the song but everytime I went into a music store I would do my best to describe it. Of course no one ever knew what the Sam Hill I was talking about! In my twenties, driving home from work, I heard the song on our local jazz station. I immediately called and asked what the song was and the DJ told me, what I thought was, "Sparkling Prism". So, for the next several years, everytime I went into my favorite record store (Record Theater in Dewitt, NY - very sadly, now defunct) I would search every Herbie Hancock album, cassette, cd but sadly nothing. UNTIL, one of my afternoon music fix shopping sprees, I look through a rack of $3.99 cassettes and picked up an unfamiliar Herbie Hancock cassette. When I turned it over, the very first song was Spiraling Prism! I could barely contain myself. I was 36 when I finally found Mr. Hands. I played nothing but Spiraling Prism in my car for a solid week! I'm 42 now, and that one song still gives me goosebumps! Enjoy this album!!!"

MR. HANDS DOES IT AGAIN

Patrick Frierson | 10/28/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It may not be the majestic spaced out funk of "Headhunters" and "Thrust", but "Mr. Hands" is Herbie's last artistic gasp during the classic fusion era of the 70's. This album has a more laid back smooth jazz vibe, but its far from watered down. Adding a touch of brazilian flavor into his Jazz Funk, Herbie was able to deepen the template he helped pioneered several years back. Since Herbie does chase down every jazz trend of the moment(circa 1979), Mr. Hands sound like a period piece at times but, Herbie is able to employ enough inventive dynamics within the compositions to keep it from sounding too dated.



"Spiraling Prism" opens the album lovely with a smooth strak bassline that makes you feel like you're swimming in a ocean and the coolness of the water washes you away with it's liqiud flow. "Calypso" is exactly what the tile indicates. It's latin styled jazz number with Tony Willams pounding the skins as if he's spreading fire with a blow torch and he's committing first degree arson because his playing is that relentless. "Just Around the Corner" is nice piece of funky disco jazz. Eventhough the synth touches can become a little bit annoying, the steady bassline makes it a standout on the album. "4 AM" has a bassline that gives the track a nocturnal feel. Picture how the early mourning looks outside when it begins to light up and you'll get a accurate description of the type of vibe "4 AM" carries. "Shiftless Shuffle" is the most unique track on the album as a turbulent drum beat is set to a fast and funky bassline that sounds like a off beat blend that becomes a interesting experiemental track by accident. Herbie pulls out the stops with his solo performance. "Textures" is the track that steals the show. It sounds like Herbie is painting picutres for the mind. As the track progreeses, it sounds like he's moving closer to completing his portriat.



There's not much more I can write about this album but, if you're looking for some mentally stimulating music, your mind is in good hands with "Mr. Hands"."

Fusion a la carte

E. Minkovitch | Montreal, Quebec | 03/27/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"God bless Mr. Hands for making music like this. It's at the same time funky, sleek, jazzy and sophisticated, filled to the brim with warmth, spaciousness and light. Really makes you want to fly! To get the most juice out of this delicious concoction, one should be well-primed in 70's style jazz/funk and fusion, because this is where this stuff is coming from, despite it's relatively late appearance on the scene. That has a lot to do with the fact that it's one of the most overlooked fusion albums. this was the time when old school funk and disco were going out of style, to be replaced by electronic funk and dance music, and fusion by smooth jazz. One of the last of it's kind, this album is a must own for any fusion or jazz/funk fan."