Dis Is Da Drum
“In the 1970s, Herbie Hancock created a successful blend of jazz improvisation and contemporary funk rhythms in a succession of albums beginning with the classic Head Hunters. On Dis Is Da Drum, Hancock once again takes a dive into contemporary rhythms, in this case mid-’90s hip-hop. While the blend was not as commercially successful this time around as his crossover forays of twenty years earlier had been, the resulting music still proves to be well worth checking out.
Employing cohorts like Bennie Maupin, Wah Wah Watson and multi-percussionist Bill Summers from the old days, and combining them with a huge roster of contemporary jazz, rap and hip-hop musicians, Hancock creates a surprising album full of samples, sequences, drum loops, and rhythm armies.
Layered across the top are a variety of solos from Hancock himself, flutist Hubert Laws, trumpeter Wallace Roney, saxophonist Maupin and vocal snippets from various sources. The release of this album was delayed because of disagreements between the artist and his record company over the final mixes. It is, nonetheless, a recording that rewards repeated listening, from the updated version of “Butterfly,” which made its first appearance on 1974’s Thrust, to such irresistible gems as “Mojuba,” “Bo Ba Be Da” and the title track. Not for jazzers whose ears and minds are closed to new sounds and ideas, but proof that jazz is a continually evolving music capable of absorbing the sounds of each new era and expanding its vocabulary as a result.” – Allmusic
- 1. Call It 95 4:41
- 2. Dis Is da Drum 4:49
- 3. Shooz 1:19
- 4. The Melody (On The Deuce By 44) 4:08
- 5. Mojuba 5:01
- 6. Butterfly 6:11
- 7. Juju 5:04
- 8. Hump 4:46
- 9. Come And See Me 4:32
- 10. Rubber Soul 6:40
- 11. Bo Ba Be Da 8:06
- 12. Butterfly (Remix) 6:02
- Herbie Hancock (Synthesizer, Piano, Clavinet)
- Herbie Hancock (Moog Synthesizer, Synth Bass)
- Herbie Hancock (Rhythm Arrangements)
- Guy Eckstine (Drums)
- William Kennedy (Drums)
- Ken Strong (Drums)
- Skip Burney (Djembe)
- Chill Factor (Composer, Rap)
- Lazaro Galarraga (Vocals, Composer)
- Francis Awe (Vocals)
- Will "Roc" Griffin (Sampling, Loops)
- Will "Roc" Griffin (Sequencing, Rhythm Arrangements)
- Nengue Hernandez (Bata)
- Mars Lasar (Synthesizers, Keyboards)
- Mars Lasar (Sound Design)
- Bennie Maupin (Tenor Sax)
- Airto Moreira (Percussion)
- The Real Richie Rich (Scratching)
- Darrell Robertson (Guitar, Rhythm Arrangements)
- Wallace Roney (Trumpet)
- Jay Shanklin (Rhythm Arrangements)
- Darrell Smith (Keyboards, Electric Piano)
- Darrell Smith (Rhythm Arrangements)
- Bill Summers (Percussion, Conga, Tambourine)
- Bill Summers (Bells, Dunun, Djembe)
- Bill Summers (Shekere, Vocal Arrangement)
- Bill Summers (Rhythm Arrangements, Cabasa)
- Frank Thibeaux (Bass Guitar)
- Wah Wah Watson (Guitar)
- Marina Bambino (Background Vocals)
- Huey Jackson (Background Vocals)
- Hollis Payseur (Background Vocals)
- Angel Rogers (Background Vocals)
- Yvette Summers (Background Vocals)
- Louis Verdeaux (Background Vocals)