Herbie Hancock best recordings

Ponnie, Rockadanny, Viridian -

Very appreciative of the suggestions! Viridian, I'll definitely look into "The River", but you lost me at "Blue Note". Are you saying this is a bad recording? If so that would be the opposite of what I'm looking for. For what it's worth I have yet to hear any HH that I'd consider 'bad music', and I think that makes my task pretty easy: sift through the thousands of his recordings to shake out those that are great. I'm not at all concerned about the quality of the music itself.

Keep the suggestions coming - really looking forward to hearing these on my new system.

Thanks!
HJ

You're right Viridian my errrrorrr :)

****Educate me on the topic of Herbie if you feel so inclined****

Well, one of the few artists who merits owning every single recording that he has done. Possible to document the evolution of jazz and all it's peripheral influences on other genres from the '60s to the present. One could argue about stylistic issues, but not a single bad recording that I can think of in his discography.

****I'm looking for a somewhat wide soundstage in a fairly intimate live setting****

Easy! Not sure what you consider intimate, but for a live recording it's got to be "V.S.O.P." Three different periods and bands in his stylistic evolution are represented; but, the band that is essentially Miles' Quintet (with Freddie Hubbard "as Miles") that is the highlight. Great record.

If owning all of his records is not an option, ones that I would definitely make sure I have:

As a leader:

"Maiden Voyage", "Speak Like A Child", "Head Hunters", "Gershwin's
World"

As sideman:

Anything with Miles
Wayne Shorter "Speak No Evil", "Adam's Apple", "Native Dancer"
Hank Mobley "The Turnaround"
Milton Nascimento "Milton's"
Joni Mitchell "Mingus"
Jack DeJohnette "Parallel Realities"
Michael Brecker "Pilgrimage"