Less overtly adventurous than its predecessor,
Empyrean Isles
,
Maiden Voyage
nevertheless finds
Herbie Hancock
at a creative peak. In fact, it's arguably his finest record of the '60s, reaching a perfect balance between accessible, lyrical
jazz
and chance-taking
hard bop
. By this point, the pianist had been with
Miles Davis
for two years, and it's clear that
Miles
' subdued yet challenging modal experiments had been fully integrated by
Hancock
. Not only that, but through
Davis
became part of the exceptional rhythm section of bassist
Ron Carter
and drummer
Tony Williams
, who are both featured on
, along with trumpeter
Freddie Hubbard
and tenor saxophonist
George Coleman
. The quintet plays a selection of five
originals, many of which are simply superb showcases for the group's provocative, unpredictable solos, tonal textures, and harmonies. While the quintet takes risks, the music is lovely and accessible, thanks to
's understated, melodic compositions and the tasteful group interplay. All of the elements blend together to make
a shimmering, beautiful album that captures
at his finest as a leader, soloist, and composer. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine