Watermelon Man

Dexter Gordon (tenor sax), Freddie Hubbard (trumpet), Herbie Hancock (piano), Butch Warren (bass) and Billy Higgins (drums). From the album Takin’ Off (1962).

This is the first album Herbie Hancock recorded as a leader, belongs to the hard bop style and his first track has become a jazz standard. All the themes were composed by Hancock. Takin’ Off reveals a composer and pianist capable of balancing sophistication and accessibility. Hancock is light, cerebral and adventurous in his harmonies. In this session we discover a 22-year-old stylist mature for his age who can interpret established forms with spirit and imagination.

His solos are rooted in the blues, gospel and stride technique of the 1940s, with clusters of crisp and caustic tones. After “Watermelon Man”, who was a big hit in Mongo Santamaría’s version, “The Maze” is the other big highlight of the album, a mysterious and brilliant piece of music that marks the direction in which Hancock would record later works such as Empyrean Isles.

The rhythm section makes the introduction and then Gordon and Hubbard join in to expose the theme, whose melody is simple and catchy. The first one to make his solo is Hubbard, who is accessible and captivating, linking the phrases with wisdom. He is followed by Gordon who plays in an ingenious and deeply expressive way. He’s not in a hurry and delights in every note that comes out of his saxophone. Next Hancock comes in with an inventive melodic line transmitted with very good judgment. At last, the group re-exposes the theme and Hancock continues to play chords fading out.