Herbie Hancock – Sextant

Released in 1973, Sextant stands as one of Herbie Hancock’s most daring albums, and marks the culmination of his work with the Mwandishi ensemble.

Blending avant-garde jazz, experimental electronics, and elements of funk, the record anticipates musical directions that would only be fully explored years later in both jazz and electronic music. Through the use of analogue synthesizers, spacey effects, and complex rhythmic structures, Hancock creates an abstract, futuristic sonic landscape that challenged the norms of its time. Sextant is not an easy listen, but it remains a vital work for anyone interested in the outer edges — and evolving nature — of jazz as an art form.