THEN & NOW: THE DEFINITIVE HERBIE HANCOCK

One more unfocused Hancock compilation. There are his five great songs from very early post-bop period and all other space is filled with his late r'n'b oriented songs or contemporary jazz of today. OK, it is written in album name, but what was the reason to release so strange thing at all (ok, I know the answer -money).

There are not too much of Hancock most influential Mwandishi Trilogy with heavy experimental works, or Headhunters period with technical jazz-funk. So, the compilation represents him in his most conservatively commercial aspect ( post-bop plus r'n'b plus pop jazz). Even his terrible hip-hop and disco hits aren't included there!

I believe that this release is oriented to specific target group (as comfortable listening). But what for there are two different versions of Maiden Voyage or River included? This listener isn't collector of all possible variations of the same theme.

So, even including some great compositions, this strongly commercial release has not too much sense.