1972's Crossings finds the Herbie Hancock sextet expanding to a septet with the addition of synth master Patrick Gleeson and further experimenting in the electronic avant-garde. Excellent trumpeter Eddie Henderson – often underestimated as an improviser and composer, and the talented Benny Maupin - who like Hancock had grown up under Miles Davis's wing - present a wide range of sound-generating instruments here – as was all the rage in those days.
Synthesizer and Mellotron (a polyphonic tape replay keyboard and as such practically the prototype of the sampler) were permanent members of the group – and produce melodic arches of sound throughout. Featuring three songs that clock in at over 45 minutes, this adventurous LP is a contemporary historical document, though it certainly doesn't sound antiquated. That's exactly why younger listeners are sure to find pleasure in these experiments from the previous millennium.
This Speakers Corner 180-gram vinyl reissue was remastered using pure analogue components only, from the master tapes through to the cutting head.
Musicians:
Herbie Hancock (electric-piano, piano, mellotron, percussion)
Bennie Maupin (soprano saxophone, flute, bass clarinet, piccolo flute, percussion)
Eddie Henderson (trumpet, flugelhorn, percussion)
Julian Priester (trombonbe, percussion)
Patrick Gleeson (synthesizer)
Buster Williams (bass, percussion)
Billy Hart (drums, percussion)
- Sleeping Giant
- Quasar
- Water Torture