Herbie Hancock
Speak Like a Child (Blue Note 46136)

Herbie's first solo album released after the dissolution of Miles Davis's classic quintet finds him in somewhat of a George Harrison mode (that's a compliment). Some of the tunes had been written for that group, but they find possibly better expression here, on what some view as the sequel album to Maiden Voyage.

It's a fantastic record, one I enjoy even more than its predecessor, and you can tell Herbie is enjoying the leadership role after his stint with Miles. He had been able to record solo albums while with Miles (Maiden Voyage was even one of those), but he sounds particularly inspired on Speak Like a Child, and the unconventional instrumentation line-up allows for greater flexibility than the standard quartet or quintet arrangement.

Herbie plays, supported by Ron Carter on bass, Thad Jones on flugelhorn, Peter Philips on bass trombone, Jerry Dodgion on alto flute, and Mickey Roker on drums.

These aren't all "names," but the sextet allows for greater tonal coloration, especially with these particular instruments – it's just a great sound – intimate, appealing, and beautiful. It's a sound perfectly suited to the songs, which are complex but gorgeous, underpinned with a quiet intensity but shining through with great beauty in the playing.

"Riot" is a tune from the Quintet canon, done a bit quieter here but with no less sense of purpose than the original recording with Miles. "Speak Like a Child" was also rehearsed by the Quintet, as discovered on the Complete Studio Recordings of the Miles Davis Quintet box set, (and that's a wonderful recording), but as fleshed out here it's a very pretty ballad, sumptuously arranged.

Hancock's playing on this is up there with his work on Donald Byrd's A New Perspective album, which I consider to be his finest playing ever. Simply stunning.

Track three is "First Trip," a catchy Ron Carter tune and one of only two non-Hancock originals released on all of Herbie's seven Blue Note albums. The interplay between Carter and Hancock is great on this one. "Toys" is very much like Gil Evans's hot/cool sound, featuring tightly played yet loose-feeling lines from the horns and flute. Brilliant stuff.

"Goodbye to Childhood" continues the "child" theme but takes it into a darker place, brewing slowly and offering a classic introspective solo from Herbie.

The disc closes with "The Sorcerer," another holdover from the Quintet, a bit more straightforwardly "jazzy" than the rest of the album, but totally effective.

Speak Like a Child is a subtle album, but a mature one, and one of the few genuinely underrated Blue Note albums. Once again, this material is included on Herbie's Blue Note box set, but if you're looking for a good starter disc for Herbie, go for this one.

Maiden Voyage is great, and certainly more famous, but Speak Like a Child is more fresh. One of the best piano jazz albums ever, and a consistent pleasure to hear. A Herbie Hancock album to actively enjoy rather than to simply collect.

Loud Bassoon rating scale

Review by Lula Babcock