How To Play 'Magic Number' (Herbie Hancock Rhodes Solo)

PLEASE KEEP CHECKING BACK FOR COMPLETE VIDEOSCORES OF THESE TRANSCRIPTIONS! I am in the process of creating videoscores for all my transcriptions - I've already done quite a few but it will take me a while to get them all done - let me know if there are any you wish me to prioritise, or new ones that you'd like me to do!

One of my friends from University, Jon Opstad, wrote a final year thesis on Herbie Hancock's Rhodes solos of the 70's, in which he did a lot of in-depth harmonic and rhythmic analysis. It was his opinion that Herbie reached his Rhodes playing peak (in terms of perfecting his playing technique and style) around the early 80's, just as the Rhodes started to be overtaken by newer (and incomparable in terms of sound quality) digital pianos. Disco was on the wane and it was a matter of two years or so before Herbie would release his famous 'Rockit', which was a hit of the magnitude of 'Chameleon' or 'Watermelon Man'. If you listen through the Magic Windows album, the Rhodes almost takes a back seat in comparison to Herbie's albums of the mid- to late '70's, The solo in 'Magic Number' is truly one of Herbie's greatest though - in the middle of a montuno-driven latin disco track, Herbie unleashes one of the most incredible Rhodes solos of his career. I've been struggling to get to grips with this solo for a while, trying to manage to play through a take with minimal mistakes; it's very difficult still, and this was my best effort of a few. The 12" disco version of 'Magic Windows' omits the Rhodes solo, so it was perfect to use as a backing for this video; I got to play Herbie's solo without having to spend most of my concentration playing it over his existing recording. There isn't much to say about the voicings in this but there are some great chromatic riffs and some very complex licks that go out of the key (in the way that only Herbie can!). I hope you enjoy it anyway!

As usual, this video was recorded:
Rhodes suitcase mk1 88 - Apogee Duet (direct from amp outputs) - Logic.

Copyright Disclaimer: Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for fair use for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favour of fair use.

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[carlostarita77]

Veramente bravo complimenti !!!

[Oldjammer52]

Man You Got It Down !!!!!!!!!!!!

[jazzb6p]

yeah

[BLKSEA1]

You keep spoiling us, I thought no one knew about this album. Great