MAO Legendary Albums - Herbie Hancock: V.S.O.P. Live Under the Sky

The musicians of the MAO study and embellish all of the current recordings, leaving the musical structures and instrumentation intact during the performances. As improvisation and soloistic expression are essential components of the jazz language, the musicians naturally perform improvised solos at the concerts. Thanks to the respect for original compositions and orchestrations and the improvisations of musicians of the quality that the Modern Art Orchestra is known for, the Legendary Albums bring listeners into contact with the tradition of jazz masterpieces and guarantee a fresh musical experience.

Herbie Hancock: V.S.O.P. Live Under the Sky

If ever Herbie Hancock made a bad decision, it was to name one of his hottest bands V.S.O.P., the name that appears on the label of a cognac that has been faded for at least four years. Miles Davis, however, may have regretted in hindsight that when Hancock invited him to be a guest at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1976, he didn't join. So Freddie Hubbard played trumpet then and with him formed the quintet of former Davis members; Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter, Tony Williams, and a straight-ahead style that included the experience of musicians who also played rock, no fade, more liveliness. Three years later, their open-air festival appearance in Japan was full of fire, their dynamism even in the slower numbers was tremendous, the cohesion amazing. Until the encore, they played only their own songs, whose compositional bravura and exciting harmonies make for great solos and delightful patter. They take the audience through the whole emotional gamut, from Eyes of the Hurricane to Fragile.