Concert review. HERBIE HANCOCK at ÜBERJAZZ Festival 2012

Sunday October 28, 2012 provided the closing act of the ÜBERJAZZ weekend, featuring the main attraction in an almost sold-out show, piano grandmaster and electronic crossover pioneer Herbie Hancock. With the charms of a young lad, the gentleman of 72 hosted his own performance both as pianist, witty professional show master and buy-one-musician-get-a-band-free bandleader.

For some 90 minutes, Mr. Hancock presented a few of his many sides as inventor, interpreter and performer. Taking off with the 1966 Wayne Shorter composition Footprints, Hancock briefly displayed a hint of his enormous velocity and virtuosity, while for these ten minutes, he seemed to combine the styles and trademarks of, let’s say George Gershwin, Ravel, Count Basie and this Hancock guy…
After another solo piano piece, he invited his band to enter the stage; this, however, was done rather quickly since the band consisted purely of samples of bass, drums, percussion and any other sound, you name it.

The following titles then all featured electronics and any number of gadgets, including his notorious keytar, that portable combination of keyboard and guitar.
Merged with  Hancock’s able hands, nonetheless, that instrument rather blew away the audience. Let’s not forget that this man was one of the Rhodes pioneers, a supporter of a number of funk bands and founder of the Headhunters, a band years ahead of its time.
With Cantaloupe he closed his show, again referring to a number of iPads and electronic samples to open the song and have him perform lead. Unable to finish his set, due to heavy applause, the master returned. Now playing a kind of medley consisting of Rock It and some Headhunters tunes. Leaving behind a very pleased audience that was taken by his skills and charms straight away and that would return immediately was he to have another show tomorrow.

Review by Dr. A. Ebert