Herbie Hancock

Abstract

Hancock’s postbop composition provided some of the signature sounds of the 1960s. “King Cobra” (My Point of View) relies on both major third and minor third axis progressions, often using a slash-chord vocabulary; several devices at the end of the form enhance its tonal and formal ambiguity. “Dolphin Dance” (Maiden Voyage) maintains an even heightened sense of tonal and formal ambiguity. It begins with major third axis progressions embellished through harmonic substitutions and elaborations; despite local harmonic cadences and goals, the composition suppresses a single-key orientation. “Jessica” (Fat Albert Rotunda) relies on a perfect fifth axis progression in its skeletal melody, and its horn scoring reveals significant details of Hancock’s harmonic vocabulary and harmonic substitution techniques.