The Rudy Van Gelder Edition of MAIDEN VOYAGE includes an essay by Bob Blumenthal. Personnel: Herbie Hancock (piano); George Coleman (tenor saxophone); Freddie Hubbard (trumpet); Ron Carter (bass); Tony Williams (drums). Recorded at Van Gelder Studios, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on May 17, 1965. Originally released on Blue Note (BLP 4195). Includes liner notes by Herbie Hancock and Nora Kelly. Digitally remastered by Rudy Van Gelder. This is part of the Blue Note Rudy Van Gelder Editions series. Probably the best in Herbie Hancock's series of fine Blue Note albums from the 60s, Maiden Voyage finds him in what is basically the Miles Davis band of the time, with Miles replaced by the young Freddie Hubbard. Hancock has always been a fine composer, but Maiden Voyage contains two classic compositions in particular - the beautiful `Dolphin Dance', and the atmospheric and popular title track. Saxophonist George Coleman, bassist Ron Carter and drummer Tony Williams play as well throughout as they have ever played, and the whole record is marked with a timeless freshness and sense of creative tension



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- Josh

Thanks man that whole album wails.

As Joshua's post points, 'Maiden Voyage' features Miles Davis' early sixties group, with Freddie Hubbard on trumpet in lieu of Miles. If you want to hear that Miles Davis group on CD, I'd highly recommend, 'The Best of Seven Steps: The Complete Columbia Recordings 1963-1964'. It's a single disc with highlights from the seven disc 'Seven Steps: The Complete Columbia Recordings 1963-1964'. Saxophonist George Coleman is on the first five tunes (The title track, which smokes, as well as "I Fall In Love Too Easily", "Autumn Leaves", "Stella By Starlight" and "All Blues"). Saxophonist Sam Rivers is on one tune ("If I Were A Bell") and Wayne Shorter is on one tune ("Walkin'"). Drummer Frank Butler and Pianist Victor Feldman also appear on some tracks. This is considered a transitional period for Miles between his first classic quintet w/ Coltrane and his second great quintet (in place on the CD's last tune with Miles, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Tony Williams and Wayne Shorter).

Actually, the first tune, "Seven Steps To Heaven", would be the title track to the studio album of the same name, not the "Best Of" compilation or the box set. By the way, the box set includes the album version of SSTH with Coleman on sax, as well as a rehearsal take and two other alternate takes. The more I check out Miles' recordings, I'm blown away by how many incredible groups he had and how many influential stylistic changes he made.

The reason that Miles got rid of Coleman at least according to his autobiography was that Tony Williams didn't like how Coleman played everything too perfectly he liked musicians that took chances and made mistakes. This coming from a seventeen year old kid. Either this group or the Coltrane and Cannonball Adderley group's gotta be the best in a way though they're not comparable at least not in my opinion the times were a changin'. My favorite Miles fusion album though would have to be the "Dark Magus" Carnegie Hall show from 1974 I believe. It almost sounds like techno music and well, I mean that as a complement. I gotta just reiterate how much I like Freddie Hubbard though I play with a trumpet player that doesn't like flashy playing but I think He's tasteful about it, not as in your face as Diz.