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Empyrean Isles | 
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| Artist: Herbie Hancock
Label: Blue Note Records
Category: Music
List Price: $11.98
Buy New: $10.99
You Save: $0.99 (8%)
New (43) Used (12) Collectible (2) from $5.99
Rating:  14 reviews
Sales Rank: 19326
Format: Original Recording Reissued, Original Recording Remastered
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 98796
UPC: 724349879621
EAN: 0724349879621
ASIN: B00000I8UG
Release Date: March 23, 1999
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Tracks:
| • | One Finger Snap | | • | Ololoqui Valley | | • | Cantaloupe Island | | • | The Egg | | • | One Finger Snap (Alternative Take) | | • | Oliloqui Valley (Alternative Take) |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Pianist and composer Herbie Hancock has had a long and varied career, during which he's enjoyed both creative and commercial success, though seldom at the same time. For many listeners, his creative peak came early, on two stunning Blue Note recordings, Maiden Voyage and the less celebrated Empyrean Isles. Recorded in 1964, Empyrean Isles is the earlier of the two and also the most radical. Hancock's quartet features Freddie Hubbard substituting a cornet for his usual trumpet, and getting a more burnished, slightly warmer sound. Without the jazz-typical saxophone present, Hancock's is almost a naked band, and the single horn blurs the lines between the pianist's mood-rich compositions and improvisation. The group uses the increased sense of space for intense collective creation, with Hancock and drummer Tony Williams pressing far beyond their instruments' usual roles and engaging Hubbard in edgy, complex dialogue, while bassist Ron Carter anchors the performances. Hubbard rises to the occasion with brilliance, responding to the stimulus with a fluency of thought and execution--a daring that built on his avant-garde experience with musicians like John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, and Eric Dolphy. From the breezy "Oliloqui Valley" to the funky "Cantaloupe Island" and on to the dissonance of the extended "Egg," this is one of the most significant documents of the Blue Note style that emerged in the mid-'60s. It's music that tests the balance of control and risk, and Hubbard's is also one of the great performances by a trumpeter in modern jazz. --Stuart Broomer
Album Description
Herbie Hancock's fourth Blue Note album with Freddie Hubbard, Ron Carter and Tony Williams defined the sound that his jazz work would carry to this day: funk, delicate harmonies and experimental improvisation all somehow working together. "One Finger Snap" and, of course, "Cantaloupe Island" have become jazz classics.
Includes two bonus tracks.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 9 more reviews...
One of the best, by one ot the best July 30, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
If I had a gun put to my head by some quirky jazz-loving criminal who was intent on forcing me to confess which Herbie Hancock album was the greatest, I'd probably flirt with the idea of naming "maiden voyage" and then admit that this one was where it's at. Why? Because like "maiden voyage" the playing here is both inventive and brilliant, but in addition to those virtues this album features an amazing variety that is nevertheless organic. In other words Hancock shows you all the most daring possible moves on the chessboard without trying to play checkers. It's an approach that rewards repeated listening, and as with the greatest of all jazz albums it allows the audience to come away with something new with each listen. This is one righteous, eternally fresh, piece of jazz-fruit that will never rot.
Hancock's best ever - essential jazz masterpiece May 26, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
My knowledge of Herbie Hancock extends to five solo albums plus his work with Miles Davis, so I don't at all consider myself an expert on this guy. But this is my favorite Hancock album that I've heard. And yes, I know (and like) both Maiden Voyage and Headhunters, so don't tell me I don't know Herbie.
Anyway, the first thing to note is the guy behind the drum kit. That's right, Tony Williams is on this album. That should make it reason enough to buy it, no? Here's another. This record has the classic Canteloupe Island on it. Kind of like the original Watermelon Man (the one found on Takin' Off, that is) in that it's based around a simple funk-blues piano theme that becomes the launch pad for some stellar solos from cornet player Freddie Hubbard and Hancock himself. The Egg is also worth your while - its unpredictable structure messes with your head (it could've been three different songs!) and justifies the quarter-hour length. If I had this on vinyl, I could easily see myself spinning side 2 of this album to death.
To be honest, side one can't match up to side two. But I gave this five stars for a reason: Every song rules. One Finger Snap is an exciting, energetic piece of post-bop, and the ballad Oliloqui Valley boasts some melodic bass playing from Ron Carter. I like melodic bass playing.
This is a pure classic, plain and simple. A mix of modal jazz and blues - like Kind of Blue, only less blue. Maiden Voyage pales in comparison.
Herbie Hancock Has Arrived... May 13, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Have you ever come across an artist that has 2 albums so good, it's virtually impossible to determine which of the 2 is better? Well today I'll be reviewing the first of 2 Herbie Hancock's explorations in excellence (with the other being Maiden Voyage).
Empyrean Isles is one of those rare albums that manage to stretch the limits of the English language. It is such a wonderful album that one sometimes struggles to find a word to describe it. Whenever asked how the album is, I always find myself frowning up my face, and then replying with the basic "That one is GOOD!!!" This is one of those albums that achieves perfect balance, and fills in the gaps in the center of your jazz collection. It isn't as subdued as "Kind of Blue", but it isn't quite as upbeat as "Miles Smiles". Empyrean Isles has a little more flare than "Lush Life", but it isn't quite as fiery as "A Love Supreme". To put it plainly, this album is the perfect balance of Freddie Hubbard's fire and Herbie Hancock's melodic harmony, and the fact that Herbie composed every song himself makes it all the more impressive.
I must admit though, in order to get the full effect of this compositional masterpiece, you really need to be sitting home alone or somewhere with your headphones on and your eyes closed. Needless to say the samples are virtually useless. There is no way possible to contain all the harmony, or display all the little nuances that make these compositions great within a 30 second time frame. Do yourself a favor: Take the dive...and enjoy!
1+ 3 December 6, 2006
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
With Freddie backed by Herbie,Ron Carter,and Tony Williams.This is high-flight crisp and inspiring music.Worthy of repeated listenings. Listen and enjoy.Williams is over the top,very creative and will continue to suprise you with his unceasing inventiveness.I've always noticed how Carter and Williams really spur Hancock on as you will notice in this set.Hancock,one the the truly great pianist of post-bop era,sounds like he is his having the time of his life.It doesn't get much better than this.
5 stars for music --- 2 stars for remastering April 13, 2006
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
If you're thinking of upgrading from the previous release I would think twice. I have many of the new RVG remasters and have found most of them with improved sound, although some of them are just louder, not better. But this release is curious to say the least. While the bass is somewhat more prominent it is at the expense of the drums which are a major reason why this session worked. Mr. Williams sounds like he was in the next studio over, in the background, compared to the initial release.
I won't comment on the musical content as others have done a great job with that except to say that this is one of the finest Blue Note sessions ever recorded. At this writing there are a few used copies of the first remaster done by Ron McMaster. I would recommend that you grab that issue instead.
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