Herbie Hancock

[Ed S]

Saw Herbie Hancock at the University at Buffalo Wednesday 10/9/13. His band included Vinnie Colaiuta on drums, James Genus on bass and Lionel Loueke on guitar. I went not knowing what to expect - especially when I saw there was a guitar player. It took about a minute to see the music would focus on Head Hunters era material - at least at the start.

Mind you, I really like that stuff. But I have to say that this was the most disappointing performance by a major artist I have ever attended. There was no groove, no funk, barely recognizable songs, extremely long, boring solos - especially by Herbie. Most of the solos sounded like pointless noodling around. It sounded totally uninspired, incongruous, almost emotionless. Huge huge disappointment. I could go into the songs that were played but that would be pointless - everything I heard was awful.

Four songs and over an hour into the show - I got up and walked out. I waited in the lobby a few minutes and felt horrible for leaving. So I went back in - in hopes that perhaps something would click - only to find the band standing around and watching Herbie tinker around with his synthesizers and drum machines - and the vocoder. Horrible. I walked out again and did not turn back. By that time there were dozens of others leaving as well - all muttering under their breath about how disappointed they were.

The only good point was that while tickets for the event were around $75 each, my son - who attends UB - was able to get me tickets for $20 each. I'd really be pissed if I paid the full freight.

What a clunker.....