HERBIE HANCOCK- MWANDISHI


Herbie Hancock
Mwandishi
(1971)
Warner Bros. Records

Dateline: Sunday, April 26, 2020

Herbie Hancock’s Mwandishi band is one of the biggest inspiration in developing my art life. With the Mwandishi band, everyone was assigned Swahili names. It was tailored made to fit them as an instrument to the universe. Herbie was named Mwandishi meaning The Composer. Mwandishi was also part of a connection to the homeland. Along with a spiritual connection to home and an elevation to the future. At the time, I was slowly starting my quest for a higher plane. Trying to figure out where to go.  It s a journey that I’m still working on as I'm writing this. Along with me forging my way with my own identity. Being delved heavily into listening to the Mwandishi series, I decided to name myself through my beliefs that I share in my life. Rudo, which means Love in Shona, Amani meaning peace in Swahili and Olukayode meaning happiness in Yoruba. It’s my way of a deeper connection to home. Hopefully, I’ll do proud like Herbie and Mwandishi did. By the way, I prefer Herbie’s Mwandishi band over his The Head Hunters period. I love my funk and The Head Hunters were one of the funkiest cats kicking but Mwandishi was Herbie beyond another galaxy.  The things he did creatively with Mwandishi blows my mind every time.  I can play any of the trilogy albums (Mwandishi, Crossings and Sextant) and it still will sound fresh to me and these albums came out about 50 years ago or less than that. But, I understand why Mwandishi had to end. You can only go so far with a concept. Plus, you have to eat at the end of the day. As much as Mwandishi was one of the most brilliant art ever created, it wasn’t putting food on the table, The Head Hunters were, beyond measure.  Not only that, you have to evolve as an artist.  Otherwise, you're gonna be in a creative and spiritual rut.  Like the saying goes, all good things must come to an end someday.

Artist: Herbie Hancock
Title: Ostinato (Suite for Angela)
Album: Mwandishi
Label: Warner Bros. Records

Artist: Herbie Hancock
Title: You'll Know When You Get There
Album: Mwandishi
Label: Warner Bros. Records
















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