JULY 12
Herbie Hancock's Sextet

Last night in the Stravinski Auditorium, Herbie Hancock's sextet performed "Gershwin's World," a program based on and inspired by the prolific composer, perhaps most well known for such works as "An American in Paris." The concert kicked off with the band's rendition of "Fascinating Rhythm" and "It Aint Necessarily So" and continued into "St. Louis Blues" and "Someone to Watch Over Me." Halfway through the show, Hancock took a break and spoke to the audience about the beauty of the song lyrics, written apparently by Gershwin's brother.

Breaking the all-instrumental set, Hancock brought out Italian songbird, Georgia, a lovely and delicate woman with a surprisingly large voice. Right from the start, when she led into "The Man I Love" and "Summertime" it was obvious that this woman had years of vocal training in jazz. She was amazing! In perfect sync with the rest of the sextet, it was as if she had been singing with them for years.

There is so much talent in Hancock's group that it is almost impossible to single out any one. However, the saxophone player's stamina was awe-inspiring. And the percussionist employed an exciting array of rhythm instruments, in quick and creative succession, lending an additional dimension of charcter to the ensemble.

Throughout the concert, the band members seemed to have a genuinely good time. Even at the end of the set, which culminated with "Porgy and Bess" and "One Finger Snap," Hancock grinned with a twinkle in his eye and said, "This is fun."

What an eveving! The sextet's music was so alluring and the sound system so clear, that it was wonderfully easy to forget that the show was reinforced at all. The front section of seating was covered by three CQ-2s on either side plus two in a cluster above center stage. Along with the lowend provided by the PSW-6 self-powered cardioid subwoofer systems (four per side), these CQ loudspeaker systems (also installed at discerning venues like the San Francisco Opera House) made the reinforced sound quality very crisp and clean, and the experience very intimate.