The New Standard

Released in 1996, The New Standard represents a pivotal moment in Herbie Hancock's late-career discography. After decades of pioneering electronic fusion and R&B crossover, Hancock returned to an acoustic-leaning sextet to argue that the 'Great American Songbook' was not a static museum piece, but an evolving entity. By selecting tracks from Peter Gabriel, Sade, and Stevie Wonder, Hancock demonstrated that the melodic and harmonic bones of contemporary pop could support rigorous jazz improvisation. The ensemble is a 'who's who' of modern jazz, featuring Michael Brecker, John Scofield, Dave Holland, Jack DeJohnette, and Don Alias. The album was critically well-received for its adventurous arrangements, particularly the 8-minute exploration of 'Norwegian Wood.' It stands as a precursor to the 'jazz covers pop' trend that would become prevalent in the 2000s, though few reached the level of technical interplay found here.