Takin’ Off

Released in 1962 on Blue Note Records, Takin' Off is Herbie Hancock's debut as a leader. While Hancock had already gained attention as a sideman for Donald Byrd, this session established him as a major composer and pianist. The lineup is a 'who's who' of the era, featuring Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Dexter Gordon on tenor sax, Butch Warren on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums. The album is most famous for 'Watermelon Man,' which became a massive hit and a jazz standard, later re-imagined by Hancock himself in a funk context on Head Hunters. Sonically, the album sits firmly in the hard-bop tradition but distinguishes itself through Hancock's unique harmonic vocabulary and his ability to write 'catchy' melodies that don't sacrifice complexity. Critical reception was overwhelmingly positive, with AllMusic noting that it is one of the most accomplished debuts in jazz history. It serves as the bridge between the soulful bop of the late 50s and the modal explorations Hancock would soon undertake with Miles Davis.