Herbie Hancock (p); Michael Brecker (ts, ss); John Scofield (g, sit); Dave Holland (b); Jack DeJohnette (dr, perc); Don Alias (perc); a.o. & strings and horn section At first glance, this record doesn't seem very promising for jazz lovers. Herbie Hancock plays a number of songs, including numbers by Peter Gabriel, Stevie Wonder, Sade, Paul Simon, Prince, the Beatles ("Norwegian Wood") and Kurt Cobain. However, by adding improvisations, re-harmonizing the chord structures, sometimes quickly discarding the melodies and using an all-star band, Hancock succeeded in transforming the potentially unspectacular music into creative jazz. Hancock, who sticks to the acoustic piano, shows that he is still in top form and has some fiery solos up his sleeve. With Michael Brecker on tenor and surprisingly effective soprano saxophone, guitarist John Scofield, bassist Dave Holland, drummer Jack DeJohnette and percussionist Don Alias (plus the occasional horn or string section mixed in later), the results are often pure jazz and certainly never predictable. Although it is doubtful that any of these songs will ever become a jazz standard, Herbie Hancock has managed to create a memorable set of 'new' music. A worthwhile excursion! The name of the Herbie Hancock album "The New Standard", released in 1996, was also the program. Following an old jazz tradition, the pianist cleverly transformed somewhat older and very contemporary pop songs by Stevie Wonder, Prince, Sade, Peter Gabriel, Steely Dan and Nirvana, among others, into new jazz standards. "The New Standard" is now being released for the first time as a double album on vinyl. Verve By Request series: remastered, audiophile 180 gram vinyl from Third Man Pressing / Detroit, gatefold sleeve.