Herbie Hancock is undoubtedly a legend. Whilst he may very well be an absolute force in an era of jazz music that spans decades, he also takes a second to recognise his band members on stage. You know Herbie Hancock is a humble, generous guy when he shakes his hands as if to say “it’s nothing” when the audience applauds him on stage and gives each of his band members due credit while they are all up on stage in the Brisbane Concert Hall at QPAC filled with people on all levels of seating.
From Watermelon Man to Rock It to Cantaloupe Island, we all have our favourites. We also all have a special place in our heart for the funk-fusion extraordinaire that is Herbie Hancock. It is not just the way that he plays but the soul he puts into his music, the way that each band member breathes life into every note that they play and how they all work together. There’s no perfection as watching a band in sync as there is with drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, bassist James Genus and guitarist Lionel Loueke with Herbie Hancock switching between piano and keyboard and a bit of good old fashioned keytar in the mix.
It’s the complicated drumming patterns, the dissonant chords and the percussive guitar rhythms falling in line with the pulsing bass line that made this show one that audiences of all varieties could enjoy. It’s not just the look and feel of Herbie Hancock and his band playing together, the grooving and familiarity with the succession of notes but the different genres of music that featured throughout the performance. You could say that there was an almost experimental fusion at play but then there were also more traditional and minimalist jazz-electric elements.
But what really is traditional when it comes to Herbie Hancock? Hancock seems to know no mistakes when playing his various keyed instruments as notes flow naturally for him when between a keyboard and a grand piano or even a keytar for good measure. The audience members gathered on the second day of the month of June at the QPAC Concert Hall to share a time in place and history of Herbie Hancock touring Australia in 2019. Regardless of how invested you are in the way Hancock shapes the sound from his instruments to deliver a unique and spectacular sound in the way that he does, this show is for everyone and for those looking to enjoy a good night out with some head shaking and foot tapping along the way.
From older hits to newer tracks, there was something there for everyone. Pulling from old and new tracks and showcasing electric jazz fusion to some of the more standard classics, the audience was able to witness a range of musical styles and enjoy each band member and their playing style depending on what the song allowed them to contribute. Essentially, you should come enjoy some time with Hancock and his fellow band members who will create a show for you like no other. Come see a moment in time you will never forget, and let Hancock change the way you hear music.
Sunday, 2nd June 2019
Concert Hall, QPAC
Presented by Live Nation
Joanna Letic