Takin’ Off was pianist Herbie Hancock’s (born inChicago on April 12, 1940; he is 79 at this writing) firstalbum under his own name. All of the compositionsare by the leader, who is backed by such stars asDexter Gordon, Freddie Hubbard, Butch Warren, andBilly Higgins. The album includes one of Hancock’sbest-known compositions, “Watermelon Man”, whichmade it to the Top 100 on the pop charts. The tunewould become a jazz standard, after being coveredby Mongo Santamaria, among others. Initially, BlueNote producer Alfred Lion had told Hancock that hisfirst studio session as a leader should combine aselection of original compositions and well-knownjazz standards. However, after hearing the potentialof “Watermelon Man”, the producer urged the pianistto complete the LP with his original tunes. Takin’ Offcaught the attention of Miles Davis. Hancock wasintroduced to Davis by the young drummer TonyWilliams. As part of Miles Davis’s Second GreatQuintet, Hancock would help to redefine the role ofa jazz rhythm section and was one of the primaryarchitects of the post-bop sound. He was one of thefirst jazz musicians to embrace synthesizers andincorporate the funk genre into jazz.

FREDDIE HUBBARD, trumpetDEXTER GORDON, tenor saxHERBIE HANCOCK, pianoBUTCH WARREN, bassBILLY HIGGINS, drumsEnglewood Cliffs, New Jersey, May 28, 1962.Original session recorded by Rudy Van Gelder& produced by Alfred Lion.*BONUS TRACKS:FREDDIE HUBBARD, trumpet; JAMES SPAULDING, alto sax (on A4)& flute (on B4); HERBIE HANCOCK, piano; REGGIE WORKMAN, bass;CLIFFORD JARVIS, drums. Hackensack, New Jersey, October 10, 1962.Original session recorded by Rudy Van Gelder and produced by Alfred Lion.From Freddie Hubbard’s LP Hub-Tones (Blue Note BST841115).

• 1. Watermelon Man
• 2. Three Bags Full
• 3. Empty Pockets
• 4. You're My Everything
• 5. The Maze
• 6. Driftin'
• 7. Alone and I
• 8. Prophet Jennings