Herbie Hancock - The Prisoner (1969, 1995, Blue... May 2026

: A tribute to Dr. King’s most famous speech, featuring a modal structure and airy melodies.

The album is a poignant social concept piece dedicated to the memory of , who was assassinated just a year prior to the recording. Hancock used the metaphor of "the prisoner" to express the long-standing social and psychological imprisonment of Black people in America.

is the seventh studio album by jazz pianist Herbie Hancock, recorded in 1969 and released in early 1970. It stands as his final project for the Blue Note label before he transitioned to Warner Bros. and later explored avant-garde fusion with his Mwandishi group. A Concept of Freedom and Tribute Herbie Hancock - The Prisoner (1969, 1995, Blue...

At the time of its release, Hancock remarked that he felt closer to his "real self" through this music than on any previous recording. Musical Direction and Personnel

The album has seen several high-quality reissues that cater to both digital and analog collectors: : A tribute to Dr

Building on the orchestral textures of his 1968 album Speak Like a Child , Hancock expanded his palette into a nonet (nine-piece band). The ensemble features an unusual combination of woodwinds and brass, including bass clarinet and alto flute, which provided a rich, dark tonal color. : Piano, Electric Piano Johnny Coles : Flugelhorn Joe Henderson : Tenor Saxophone, Alto Flute Garnett Brown : Trombone Buster Williams : Bass Albert "Tootie" Heath : Drums

: A multi-sectioned piece inspired by Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring . Hancock used the metaphor of "the prisoner" to

: Hubert Laws (flute), Jerome Richardson (bass clarinet/flute), Tony Studd and Jack Jeffers (bass trombone), Romeo Penque (bass clarinet). Track Listing