Jazz pianist Herbie Hancock gets a respectful analysis from musician and writer Wendell (Patti Smith), who dissects the illustrious career of the constantly evolving contemporary legend.... This is an excellent overview of a successful musical maverick who made a career out of finding new ways of breaking the rules.

Publishers Weekly

If anyone can be called a Renaissance man, it surely is the musical virtuoso Herbie Hancock. In this finely detailed account of his illustrious and wide-ranging career, Wendell first considers Hancock’s musical roots on the South Side of Chicago.... An absolute must for Hancock fans and everyone interested in jazz and fusion.

Booklist

Resolutely straightforward and linear, Wendell outlines a brief biography that brings the reader to Hancock’s launch with Donald Byrd and his Blue Note debut, Takin’ Off. Once there, the book steps from album to album, discussing individual tracks and adding not only Wendell’s critical analysis but also that of critics contemporary to the music’s release. After working through The Imagine Project from 2009, the book closes with a brief look at Hancock’s performing career over the last decade.

New York City Jazz Record

This is the first book to focus exclusively on Hancock's career from start to finish, and it is an eminently-readable, engaging resource for any fan or musician seeking to understand his deep legacy. Wendell hosts an excellent listening party disguised as an accessible, entertaining book that richly complements Hancock's own autobiography and the jazz-rock literature.

John Howland, author of Ellington Uptown: Duke Ellington, James P. Johnson, and the Birth of Concert Jazz, Norwegian University of Science and Technology