Takin' Off


Takin' Off is the debut album by jazz pianist Herbie Hancock released on 4 July 1962 by Blue Note Records. The recording session features Freddie Hubbard on trumpet and Dexter Gordon on tenor saxophone. The album is in the hard bop idiom, with its characteristic two horns and a rhythm section. The bluesy track "Watermelon Man" made it to the Top 100 of the singles charts, and went on to become a jazz standard. The album has been called "one of the most accomplished and stunning debuts in the annals of jazz." It was released on CD in 1996 with three alternate takes and then remastered in 2007 by Rudy Van Gelder. The 2007 edition includes new liner notes by Bob Blumenthal.

Track listing

All compositions by Herbie Hancock.
Bonus tracks on reissue

Personnel