Speak Like a Child

Artist: Herbie Hancock
Label: EMI Distribution
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Media: Audio Cassette

UPC: 077778427940
EAN: 0077778427940
ASIN: B00000EF3K

Release Date: 1990-10-17

Related Categories:

General

| Jazz | Styles | Music

Jazz Fusion

| Jazz | Styles | Music

Modern Postbebop

| Jazz | Styles | Music

Hard Bop

| Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

General

| R&B | Styles | Music

Tracks:

Riot
Speak Like a Child
First Trip
Toys
Goodbye to Childhood
Sorcerer

Customer Reviews:

OLD SCHOOL.......2004-11-28

This is -shall we say-definitely "old school". This is Herbie Hancock as long time sideman for Miles Davis. This recording was released in 1968 just at the time Davis was entering the wild river of "fusion". Not that you would clearly know it from this record. On the surface SPEAK LIKE A CHILD seems like an imitation of Davis' quintet; but as the liner notes point out Hancock himself wanted to open up the confines of the typical jazz acoustic quintet.

Perhaps SPEAK LIKE A CHILD did mark a departure at the time; but in light of Hancock's future outings (especially HEAD HUNTERS) this was a rather timid step.

"Riot" doesn't have the emotional context now that it did in 1968; but this was during the famous "days of rage" when the violent civil disruptions in the inner cites provoked both fear and bewildered contempt in onlookers of the evening news. Space does not permit an in depth discussion of the whole subject of those riots; but just let it be said that to entitle any music piece as such would have produced a variety of strong emotional reactions. Hancock himself was of a more musical mind in that he was after a collision of sounds. The first few bars speak of anger but then the piece changes into a mild babble of musical thoughts. Not exactly my favorite.

Much better is "Speak Like A Child". This is a heart warming and sentimental piece with the thoughts of childhood in mind. "First Trip" and "Toys" continue in this vein until "Goodbye To Childhood". Much like "Speak Like A Child", "Goodbye To Childhood" is a sentimental piece but there is a hint of darkness that might be missed in casual listening. But this dark tone transforms the whole piece signaling the loss of innocence.

The CD ends with "The Sorcerer" which Hancock originally wrote for Miles Davis-about Miles Davis. Hancock's own take is a refreshing end to this CD and marks the future with a mysteriousness and otherworldliness not found elsewhere on the CD.

As it stands, SPEAK LIKE A CHILD can be interpreted as a journey from birth to adulthood. The title, of course, is taken from St. Paul as he wrote about -or rather suggested-that there are certain things appropriate with each stage of spiritual maturity.

Hancock himself was still a few years from emerging from Miles Davis' shadow and baptism in the hot waters of fusion. Take this as an art project a young teenager made in junior high school. It is a long way from the work and reputation Hancock would earn as one of the "old lions" he is today. But unseasoned as SPEAK LIKE A CHILD may be, there are flashes of brilliance that are fresh and exciting that can only come from the young.

Overrated.......2001-07-25

This session is usually spoken about in the same breath as "Maiden Voyage" and "Empyrean Isles". Both of those are superior to this 1968 recording, which I found dated, muddy, chaotic in spots and formless. "Speak Like A Child" is particularly dated---like a bad love theme from a late 1960s B-movie. Herbie Hancock has done better than this.

5 stars undoubtfully.......2000-06-03

Beautiful music and marvelous band. Yes Sir, essential CD.

Childlike and Innocent.......2000-03-29

Not as strong as the other recordings in Hancock's Blue Notecatalog though. Some of the music is arranged for an 8 or 9 pieceband, and some is stripped down to trio form. None of it blows me away though. The title track is a nice modal piece but not quite as impressive as "Dolphin Dance" from the previous album, which it resembles.

Colorful musical palette.......2000-03-23

Hancock's Blue Note releases "Maiden Voyage" and Empyrean Isles" rightfully have received more critical attention and acclaim than "Speak Like a Child." Still, he deserves credit with this recording for changing up his approach, broadening the sound and weaving more colors into the tapestry.

Where "Maiden Voyage" and "Empyrean Isles" provided major forums for the horn players -- Freddie Hubbard on both and George Coleman on "Isles" -- Hancock uses Thad Jones, Jerry Dodgion and Peter Phillips exclusively to add depth to the band's sound on "Child." This approach succeeds nicely for the most part, particularly on "Riot," which Hancock had contributed while with Miles Davis. Herbie also takes fleet, satisfying solos on "Toys" and "First Trip," a Ron Carter composition.

My only complaint is that on occasion the arrangements become a bit too pretty for my taste and the solos drift a bit, losing their edge. It's nowhere Muzak, but on the title cut, for example, and sections of "Goodbye to Childhood," the sound is a bit tepid, with blurred horn lines and not particularly inspired (for Hancock) piano.

If you're building a Hancock discography that includes his jazz material (pre-"Headhunters," in other words), this is a good addition, but it's not quite must-have.

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