| | Full Review | Ratings (195) |
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| 4.5 superb | Alabaster Jones | January 26th 17 |
This is the first work of Herbie Hancock's in which his inherently experimental writing style worked on every level. Seeing the limitations that the trumpet had in playing certain styles, he eschewed them by writing the trumpet's (or in this case, the cornet, played by the ineffable Freddie Hubbard) parts very fluidly; part written and part improvisation, similar to how he wrote for the piano on his last album. What follows is one of the most delicate, deliberate, and decidedly minimal mixtures of hard/post-bop, in certain spots having a lean towards the modal. The first two tracks here are passionate and strong hard bop numbers, though the end of "Oliloqui Valley" switches to post-bop. A famously funky number comes through with "Cantaloupe Island", one of Hancock's most revered songs, before the album closes with "The Egg", a lengthy-yet-minimal track that combines hard/post-bop/modal into a beautifully meticulous sound. Truly then, Empyrean Isles was the first fully realized work of jazz's next great genius.
2 Bumps | Bump |
| 3.0 good | TRMshadow | February 22nd 12 |
I guess I'm just not getting it. All I hear when I hear this is a bunch of noodling. 3.1/5
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | GamamJ | August 7th 20 |
The third track might be standard early Herbie and jazz, but tracks 1, 2 and especially 4 break countless boundaries. The Egg is Herbie as he would be known after this album and is truly masterfull, the first three tracks are also solid. Love Hubbard on the opener.
Bump |
| 4.5 superb | AnimalsAsSummit | April 11th 16 |
All I think when I hear this is " Holy hell this insane for 1964".... because it is, Hancock broke serious boundaries with this one. An essential jazz album with songs ranging from beautiful modal sensibilities to freeform, almost classical avant-garde... Listen to it asap
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | jtswope | January 18th 24 |
| 4.0 excellent | Rodrigo | August 20th 23 |
| 5.0 classic | Timmy | March 2nd 23 |
| 4.5 superb | Bren80 | June 24th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | ZIG | February 19th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | Source | May 24th 21 |
| 4.5 superb | KuyJuk | July 19th 20 |
| 3.5 great | doofy | June 22nd 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Risodo | August 25th 19 |
| 5.0 classic | Josh | July 20th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | brandaao | September 9th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Kantala | March 7th 18 |
| 4.5 superb | rajtako | October 24th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | Arkadin | September 2nd 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Tb1114 | September 20th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | trve | September 15th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Onirium | September 11th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | p4p | July 29th 16 |
| 3.0 good | dosia | April 3rd 16 |
| 5.0 classic | daFigz | November 22nd 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | GMBass | November 18th 15 |
| 5.0 classic | wildar | October 17th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | cvlts | March 19th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | lou1000 | October 23rd 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | Behexen | September 16th 14 |
| 3.5 great | ethos | May 2nd 14 |
| 5.0 classic | SgtPepper EMERITUS | January 20th 14 |
| 5.0 classic | Kinch | June 15th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | boleyn2 | November 22nd 12 |
| 3.0 good | WJM73 | April 27th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Wael | December 19th 11 |
| 3.5 great | BiOZed | December 4th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Mendigo | August 12th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Manic_ | April 9th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Skyler | March 30th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | liledman | November 24th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | VlePa7 | November 2nd 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | KirrVlad | September 30th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | cvrcmrc | August 31st 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | iemona | August 20th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | IAJP | August 14th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jruined | April 8th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | MColeman | February 24th 09 |
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