Future 2 Future

It has been six years since iconic Herbie Hancock stood in front of a sequencer and explored the possibilities of jazz music in electronic surroundings. Since then he?s been concentrating on the acoustic sounds of Gershwin and treading the boards as one of jazz s most popular and enduring elder statesmen. However, this year sees an invigorated Hancock emerging with a brand new label and a brand new fusion album of futuristic jazz proportions. Through the guidance of producer-come-noted-bassist Bill Laswell, Hancock has teamed up with some of the finest dance producers of the day to help add a beat-ridden contemporary sound to Herbie s trademark piano keys. The likes of Detroit techno legend Carl Craig, UK drum n bass supremo A Guy Called Gerald and premier New York scratch DJ Rob Swift have all been touched by the sound of Herbie over the years. They combine their intricate knowledge of the latest nu-jazz sounds with master players Wayne Shorter, Charnett Moffett, Jack DeJonette and the great Tony Williamsto provide the perfect Blade Runner-esque backdrop to Herbie s spatial synth chords. The last time that Hancock and Laswell teamed up they concocted the platinum-selling album Future Shock, whose now legendary single Rockit won a Grammy for Best R n B Instrumental in 1983. Laswell has courted controversy over the years with his uncompromising approach to musical stereotyping. Although, with this album he has aimed for a more naturalistic approach and given the artists and producers a chance to let their compositions breathe light into the new sounds of breakbeat jazz. Highlights include the soul vocals of Chaka Khan on The Essence, the scratch and shimmy jazz breaks of This Is Rob Swift and the sumptuous abstract jazz poetry of Dana Bryant featuring the intricate hi-hat sounds of one of jazz s finest drummers on Tony Williams.