Happy 81st birthday today to legendary pianist/keyboardist Herbie Hancock who was born on 4/12/40. Hancock’s resume is quite unlike any other from his days with the Miles Davis Quintet and helping define the post-bop sound. Hancock has done it all in the jazz, funk, fusion, and electronica fields: including his early Maiden Voyage Blue Note debut to his work with the Miles Davis Quintet to later his Headhunters’ explorations including “Cantaloupe Island to 80’s singles like “Rockit.” Herbie’s 2007 tribute album River: The Joni Letters won the 2008 Grammy Award for Album of the Year, only the second jazz album ever to win the award. With the recent passing of Chick Corea, is it fair game to call Herbie the greatest living pianist? Check out a young Herbie performing with the Miles Davis Quintet in 1964…
