Yes, the tickets were expensive as hell and yes, the venue is not the most convenient in the world, but it’s Herbie Hancock for cryin’ out loud. They came, they saw, they killed. Those who made the effort to head over to The Birchmere on Sunday night got their $75 worth and then some as the the jazz icon, along with his most recent band, took the audience on a journey around the world and through a career that has spanned five decades.

To simply label Hancock a musician would not do justice to an explorer whose career is characterized by a stubborn refusal to stand still. Not only has he been on the scene since the early 60s, but he has always been on its cutting edge, always willing to appropriate the latest in technology and global influences. Playing with Miles Davis, the pianist helped codify the post-bop vocabulary and then went on to pioneer other genres including jazz-rock fusion, with his Headhunters outfit, and electronic music, with his Rockit band in the 1980s. The night’s concert showcased this never-ending search as his stage setup incorporated a traditional grand piano along with all sorts of electronic gadgetry, including a keytar (yes, a keytar!).

Photo from Herbie Hancock’s MySpace page