Herbie Hancock: The Prisoner (1969)

Herbie Hancock's final album for the Blue Note Label was 1969's The Prisoner.

A concept album, a tribute to slain civil rights leader and American hero Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Herbie said he was able to be his real self on this album more than any other leading up to it for Blue Note.

Personally I feel the album has real maturity in it, sort of an even flow through out, hints at free jazz, and modal jazz.

For my money the star of this larger band is tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson. "Boy Joe sure does show up a lot on the best bop sessions of the mid to late 60's".

Joe's husky tone, owes nothing to Coltrane, a rarity by its self, Henderson really adds a lot of fire to the album. Herbie Composed all but one track on the album, "Firewater" is a buster Williams composition that I like rather well.

 The opening track "I Have a Dream" has a fast walking intro that reminds me of Wes Montgomery's "Four on Six" from The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery. Can't really find one complaint on the album, just a fantastic post bop modern jazz album.