The Imagine Project is the forty-first studio album by American jazz pianist Herbie Hancock, released on June 22, 2010. 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. 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. 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". 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".

Track listing

Personnel Credits adapted from AllMusic

Herbie Hancock – arrangement, keyboards, piano, prepared piano, production, background vocals

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

Charts + Chart (2010) Peakposition Australian Albums (ARIA) 94 Australian Jazz & Blues Albums (ARIA) 1 Canadian Albums (Nielsen SoundScan) 42

Certifications

References