Herbie Hancock - Gershwin's World (2015) [Hi-Res] 192/24

On Gershwin's World, Herbie Hancock probes the essence of Gershwin’s muse in exciting new contexts, from the opening 'Overture', with its African drum extrapolation of 'Fascinating Rhythm', through the final, heartfelt solo treatment of 'Embraceable You'. But he doesn’t stop with Gershwin. The piano duet performance with Corea on Johnson’s 'Blueberry Rhyme', the powerful Hancock and Stevie Wonder interpretation of Handy’s 'St. Louis Blues', the sumptuous, orchestra-accompanied improvisation on Ravel’s Concerto for Piano in G, and the rousing version of Ellington’s 'Cotton Tail', with Shorter soloing on tenor, open new windows on the world from which Gershwin emerged and the world he himself influenced. The African-American blues tradition, the musical ferment in Harlem, and French impressionism all inspired Gershwin. In turn, his 'I Got Rhythm' became the basis for countless later jazz compositions, including 'Cotton Tail'.

Featuring performances by vocal superstars Stevie Wonder, Joni Mitchell, and Kathleen Battle, and the instrumental contributions of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, pianist Chick Corea, saxophonists Wayne Shorter, James Carter, and Kenny Garrett, trumpeter Eddie Henderson, and bassist Ira Coleman, Gershwin’s World finds Hancock applying his unique piano genius not only to classic songs by Gershwin, but to pieces by contemporaries closely associated with Gershwin — stride piano master James P. Johnson, blues popularizer W. C. Handy, classical composer Maurice Ravel, and jazz giant Duke Ellington, making Gershwin's world another historic landmark in the rich and uncommonly diverse catalog of another American master, Herbie Hancock.

Featuring performances by vocal superstars Stevie Wonder, Joni Mitchell, and Kathleen Battle, and the instrumental contributions of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, pianist Chick Corea, saxophonists Wayne Shorter, James Carter, and Kenny Garrett, trumpeter Eddie Henderson, and bassist Ira Coleman, Gershwin’s World finds Hancock applying his unique piano genius not only to classic songs by Gershwin, but to pieces by contemporaries closely associated with Gershwin — stride piano master James P. Johnson, blues popularizer W. C. Handy, classical composer Maurice Ravel, and jazz giant Duke Ellington, making Gershwin's world another historic landmark in the rich and uncommonly diverse catalog of another American master, Herbie Hancock.

'More than just another in the seemingly endless series of songbooks cranked out by the Verve marketing machine, Gershwin's World could just as easily have been called Hancock's World. His stamp is that strong on these familiar Gershwin vehicles...The breadth and depth of Hancock's artistry as expressed throughout this magnificent collection is absolutely stunning. With Gershwin's World, a celebration of composer's centennial, he has crafted one for the ages.' (JazzTimes.com)

...Herbie Hancock's striking tribute runs deeper and wider than most, clearly revealing Gershwin's cross-stylistic imprint, from jazz to pop to classical...a feat Hancock is familiar with--and adding snippets of Ellingtonia and other seminal jazz references for historical resonance...' (Entertainment Weekly)

Herbie Hancock, piano
Joni Mitchell, vocal
Stevie Wonder, harmonica, vocal
Chick Corea, piano
James Carter, soprano & tenor saxophone
Wayne Shorter, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone
Kenny Garrett, alto saxophone
Kathleen Battle, soprano
Eddie Henderson, trumpet
Charles Curtis, cello
Bakithi Kumalo, bass, guitar
Marlon Graves, guitar
Alex Al, bass
Ira Coleman, bass
Terri Lyne Carrington, drums
Madou Dembelle, djembe
Massamba Diop, talking drum
Cheik Mbaye, percussion
Bireyma Guiye, percussion
Cyro Baptista, percussion
Robert Sadin, percussion programming
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra

Recorded at Right Track Recording, Sony Music Studios, The Hit Factory, Masters at Work Studios, RPM Sound Studios in New York,
March - April 1998; Ocean Way Recording and O'Henry Sound Studios in Los Angeles, June 1998
Produced by Herbie Hancock, David Passick

Digitally remastered