The Imagine Project
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = The Imagine Project
| type = studio
| artist = Herbie Hancock
| cover = Herbie Hancock - The Imagine Project cover.jpg
| border = yes
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|2010|6|22}}
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio = various
| genre = Jazz
| length = {{Duration|m=66|s=11}}{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-imagine-project-mw0001969784 |title=The Imagine Project - Herbie Hancock |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=May 3, 2015}}
| label = Hancock
| producer = {{flatlist|
}}
| prev_title = River: The Joni Letters
| prev_year = 2007
| next_title =
| next_year =
}}
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = All About Jazz
| rev1score={{rating|4|5}}{{cite web |last1=Kelman |first1=John |title=Herbie Hancock: The Imagine Project |url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/the-imagine-project-herbie-hancock-herbie-hancock-music-review-by-john-kelman.php |website=All About Jazz |access-date=9 July 2018 |date=June 21, 2010}}
| rev2 = Allmusic
| rev2Score = {{Rating|2.5|5}}{{cite web|last=Jurek |first=Thom |url={{AllMusic|class=album |id=r1739531 |pure_url=yes}} |title=Allmusic review |publisher=Allmusic.com |date=2010-06-22 |access-date=2012-08-09}}
| rev3 = Entertainment Weekly
| rev3score = B+{{cite web |last1=Wood |first1=Mikael |title=The Imagine Project |url=https://ew.com/article/2010/06/16/imagine-project/ |publisher=EW.com |access-date=30 July 2020 |language=EN |date=June 16, 2010}}
| rev4 = Jazzwise
| rev4score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite web |last1=Graham |first1=Stephen |title=Herbie Hancock The Imagine Project *** |url=https://www.jazzwise.com/review/article/herbie-hancock-the-imagine-project |website=Jazzwise |access-date=30 July 2020 |language=en |date=July 29, 2010}}
| rev5=The Guardian
| rev5score={{rating|3|5}}{{cite web |last1=Fordham |first1=John |title=Herbie Hancock: The Imagine Project |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/jul/29/herbie-hancock-imagine-project-cd-review |website=The Guardian |access-date=9 July 2018 |date=29 July 2010}}
| rev6=Metro
| rev6score={{rating|2|5}}{{cite web |last1=Murphy |first1=Siobhan |title=Herbie Hancock’s Imagine Project needed more imagination |url=https://metro.co.uk/2010/08/01/herbie-hancocks-imagine-project-album-review-466032/ |website=Metro |access-date=9 July 2018 |date=1 August 2010}}
| rev7=PopMatters
| rev7score=5/10{{cite web |last1=LAYMAN |first1=WILL |title=Herbie Hancock: The Imagine Project |url=https://www.popmatters.com/131524-herbie-hancock-the-imagine-project-2496132705.html# |website=PopMatters |access-date=9 July 2018 |date=13 October 2010}}
| rev8 = Tom Hull
| rev8score = B{{cite web |title=Tom Hull: Grade List: Herbie Hancock |url=http://tomhull.com/ocston/nm/get_gl.php?n=Herbie+Hancock| publisher=Tom Hull |access-date=12 August 2020}}
}}
The Imagine Project is the forty-first studio album by American jazz pianist Herbie Hancock released on June 22, 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.herbiehancock.com/common/story.php?sid=130 |title=May 13, 2010 Press Release |publisher=Herbiehancock.com |access-date=2012-08-09}} Prominent guests include John Legend, India Arie, Seal, Dave Matthews, Jeff Beck, Chaka Khan, Tedeschi & Trucks, The Chieftains and Los Lobos.
Background
The album, which was recorded in many locations throughout the world and features collaborations with various artists, was complemented by a documentary about the recording process.{{cite web|url=http://www.herbiehancock.com/common/story.php?sid=113 |title=April 1, 2010 Press Release |publisher=Herbiehancock.com |access-date=2012-08-09}} Hancock's interpretations of these songs are cross-cultural. His version of "Imagine" was inspired by the Congolese group Konono N°1, and won the 2011 Grammy Award for "Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals" (the final year that that award was given). The instruments used on "The Times, They Are A' Changin" combine the West African kora with the Celtic flute, fiddle and Uilleann pipes.{{cite news|last=Blumenfeld|first=Larry|title=A Journey Across Borders|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|date=June 22, 2010|page=D8}} It was released in CD, digital download and vinyl.
Reception
George Varga of JazzTimes noted "This hit-or-miss quality is present throughout the album, which-despite its diverse lineup and lofty ambitions-too often errs on the side of caution and politeness, when risk-taking and surprise would have made this a recording truly worthy of Hancock's expansive skills and imagination".{{cite web |last1=Varga |first1=George |title=Herbie Hancock: The Imagine Project |url=https://jazztimes.com/reviews/albums/herbie-hancock-the-imagine-project/ |website=JazzTimes |access-date=9 July 2018 |date=10 August 2010}} John Eyles of BBC wrote "Ironically, in 2005 Hancock was elected to the Jazz Hall of Fame, since when the jazz aspects of his music have waned. Although The Imagine Project is entertaining and engaging, its jazz content is limited. Fans will hope that the 70-year-old still has another great jazz album in him – preferably alongside Shorter".{{cite web |last1=Eyles |first1=John |title=Herbie Hancock The Imagine Project Review |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/djx2/ |publisher=BBC |access-date=9 July 2018 |date=2010}}
Track listing
{{track listing
|total_length = {{Duration|m=66|s=11}}
| extra_column = Featured artist(s)
| headline = {{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003HG5WN4 |title=Album page |publisher=Amazon.com |access-date=2012-08-09}}[https://www.herbiehancock.com/music/discography/album/714/ Official Herbie Hancock page]{{cite web|url=http://consequenceofsound.net/2010/05/herbie-hancock-records-with-artists-around-the-world/|title=Herbie Hancock records with artists around the world|last=Cosores|first=Philip|date=2010-05-31|work=Consequence of Sound magazine|publisher=IndieClick Music Network|access-date=5 September 2012}}
| title1 = Imagine
| writer1 = John Lennon
| extra1 = {{flatlist|
}}
| length1 = 7:18
| title2 = Don't Give Up
| writer2 = Peter Gabriel
| extra2 = {{flatlist|
- P!nk
- John Legend
}}
| length2 = 7:26
| title3 = Tempo de Amor
| writer3 = {{flatlist|
}}
| extra3 = Céu
| length3 = 4:41
| title4 = Space Captain
| writer4 = Matthew Moore
| extra4 = {{flatlist|
}}
| length4 = 6:54
| title5 = The Times, They Are A' Changin'
| writer5 = Bob Dylan
| extra5 = {{flatlist|
}}
| length5 = 8:04
| title6 = La Tierra
| writer6 = Juan Esteban Aristizábal
| extra6 = Juanes
| length6 = 4:50
| title7 = Tamatant Tilay / Exodus
| writer7 = {{flatlist|
- Bob Marley
- Alhassane Ag Touhami
}}
| extra7 = {{flatlist|
}}
| length7 = 4:45
| title8 = Tomorrow Never Knows
| writer8 = Lennon–McCartney
| extra8 = Dave Matthews
| length8 = 5:21
| title9 = A Change Is Gonna Come
| writer9 = Sam Cooke
| extra9 = James Morrison
| length9 = 8:46
| title10 = The Song Goes On
| writer10 = Larry Klein
| extra10 = {{flatlist|
}}
| length10 = 7:48
}}
Personnel
Credits adapted from AllMusic{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-imagine-project-mw0001969784/credits |title=The Imagine Project - Herbie Hancock {{!}} Credits |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=May 3, 2015}}
- Herbie Hancock – arrangement, keyboards, piano, prepared piano, production, background vocals
{{Div col|colwidth=25em}}
- Alex Acuña – percussion
- John Alagia – production
- Ibrahim Ag Alhabib – background vocals
- Abdallah Ag Alhousseyni – acoustic guitar, background vocals
- Saïd Ag Ayad – djembe, background vocals
- Lawrence Azerrad – design
- Danny Barnes – banjo, bass, guitar
- Jeff Beck – guitar
- Chris Bolster – assistant engineering
- Richard Bravo – percussion
- Kofi Burbridge – Hammond B3, vocals
- Oteil Burbridge – bass, vocals
- Rodrigo Campos – percussion
- Denis Caribaux – engineering
- Céu – vocals
- Matt Chamberlain – drums
- Michael Chaves – guitar
- The Chieftains – featured artist
- K.S. Chithra – vocals
- Vinnie Colaiuta – drums, tambourine
- Kevin Conneff – bodhran
- Rodrigo "Funai" Costa – assistant engineering
- Curumin – drums
- Paulinho Da Costa – percussion
- Toumani Diabaté – kora
- Yaya Diarra – engineering
- Fatoumata Diawara – vocals
- Larry Goldings – Hammond B3
- Bernie Grundman – mastering
- Roland Guillotel – engineering
- Helik Hadar – engineering, mixing
- Elaga Ag Hamid – guitar, background vocals
- Jessica Hancock – production coordination, background vocals
- Lisa Hannigan – vocals
- Ken Hertz – arrangement, production
- David Hidalgo – vocals
- The Hill-Tones – background vocals
- Graham Hope – assistant engineering
- Shantau Hudikar – engineering
- India.Arie – vocals
- Anand Iyer – second engineer
- Juanes – arrangement, vocals, production
- Manu Katché – drums
- Bhawai Shankar Kathak – pakhawaj drum
- Seán Keane – fiddle
- Alan Kelly – assistant engineering
- Chaka Khan – vocals
- Abhishek Khandelwal – assistant engineering, Pro-Tools
- Douglas Kirkland – photography
- Andrew Kitchen – assistant engineering
- Larry Klein – bass, keyboards, background vocals
- K'naan – vocals
- Konono Nº1 – featured artist
- Rhani Krija – percussion
- Abdallah Ag Lamida "Intidao" – guitar, background vocals
- Eyadou Ag Leche – bass guitar, background vocals
- John Legend – vocals
- Hugo Legrand – assistant engineering
- Gustavo Lenza – engineering
- Frank Lillis – lyric translation
- Lionel Loueke – guitar
- Los Lobos – featured artist
- Jim Lowe – engineering
- Conrad Lozano – vocals
- Lucas Martins – electric bass
- Dave Matthews – guitar, vocals
- Mike Mattison – vocal arrangement, vocals
- Ndofusu Mbiyavanga – percussion
- Wagner Bigu Meirinho – assistant engineering
- Cesar Mejia – engineering
- Dani Michelle – wardrobe
- Marcus Miller – arrangement, bass, production
- Bill Mims – assistant engineering
- Mawangu Mingiedi – likembe
- Alan Mintz – executive production, background vocals
- Matt Molloy – flute
- Paddy Moloney – tin whistle, Uilleann pipes
- Mandy Montiero – groomer
- James Morrison – vocals
- Melinda Murphy – executive production, production coordination
- Áine Ní Ghlinn – lyric translation
- Chris Owens – assistant engineering, Pro-Tools
- Dean Parks – guitar
- Sridhar Parthasarthy – mridangam
- Louie Pérez – vocals
- Cindi Peters – production coordination
- P!nk – vocals
- Maria Ruvalcaba – background vocals
- Jaideep Sahni – translation
- Oumou Sangare – vocals
- Brian Scheuble – engineering
- Eric Schilling – engineering
- Seal – vocals
- Anoushka Shankar – sitar
- Wayne Shorter – saxophone (soprano)
- Jaime Sickora – assistant engineering
- Patrick Spain – assistant engineering
- Satyajit Talwalkar – tabla
- Ibrahim Tangara – engineering
- Susan Tedeschi – vocals
- Tinariwen – featured artist
- Bobby Tis – engineering
- Fernando Tobon – guitar
- Alhassane Ag Touhami – arrangement, guitar, vocals
- Derek Trucks – arrangement, guitar, production
- Visi Vincent – drums
- Marty Wall – engineer
- Pete Wallace – keyboards
- George Whitty – keyboards, sound design
- Tal Wilkenfeld – bass
- Bill Winn – engineering
- Richard Woodcraft – engineering
{{Div col end}}
Charts
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Poland|type=album|artist=Herbie Hancock|title=The Imagine Project|award=Gold|relyear=2010|certyear=2010|accessdate=March 27, 2021}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|noshipments=true}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Herbie Hancock}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Imagine Project, The}}