The Piano/Herbie Hancock

In 1978 Herbie Hancock went into a Tokyo studio to record a solo piano session for release in Japan. What made the recording noteworthy was the way it was recorded.

The album was recorded using the Direct-To-Disc method where the music goes from the studio to a master disc from which the vinyl LPs are pressed. In the pre compact disc era Direct-To-Disc represented the peak of recorded quality.

For his session Hancock chose three standards as well as four original tunes. Because of the recording technique each 16-minute side of the LP was to be recorded in one pass with only slight pauses between tunes.

The resulting album, “The Piano” was never released in the United States. However, in 2004 a compact disc was produced that included not only the 1978 release but also several alternate tracks. It can be found on the Columbia Legacy label.

The music here is absolutely stunning. Hancock rose to the challenge of performing under the constraints of the technology. His impressionistic intro to the opening track, “My Funny Valentine” is in itself worth the price of admission. Of the originals “Harvest Time” is a standout. The bonus of hearing additional takes of four of the tunes gives the listener a glimpse into Hancock’s creative process.

This is a piano recording done the way all piano recordings should be done. The instrument is well tuned and recorded with a presence and clarity that approaches the experience of hearing a live instrument. You hear the piano from the pianist’s perspective. The right hand is on the right channel and the left hand in the left channel. A gem of a recording!