Takin Off

Digitally remastered and expanded edition of this album from the Jazz legend. Contains the complete Herbie Hancock LP Takin' Off which marks the pianist's first album under his own name. All of the compositions are by the leader, who is backed by such stars as Dexter Gordon, Freddie Hubbard, Butch Warren, and Billy Higgins. The album includes one of Hancock's best known compositions, 'Watermelon Man', which made it to the Top 100 on the pop charts, went on to become a Jazz standard, and would later be successfully covered by Mongo Santamaria. The three surviving alternate takes from the session and a rare trio version of 'Like Someone in Love' (recorded by Hancock live in St. Louis the previous year) have been added here as a bonus. Essential Jazz Classics.