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The Imagine Project
The Imagine Project
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The Imagine Project
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 22, 2010 (2010-06-22)
Studiovarious
GenreJazz
Length66:11[1]
LabelHancock
Producer
Herbie Hancock chronology
River: The Joni Letters
(2007)
The Imagine Project
(2010)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
All About JazzStarStarStarStar[2]
AllmusicStarStarHalf star[3]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[4]
JazzwiseStarStarStar[5]
The GuardianStarStarStar[6]
MetroStarStar[7]
PopMatters5/10[8]
Tom HullB[9]

The Imagine Project is the forty-first studio album by American jazz pianist Herbie Hancock, released on June 22, 2010.[10] Prominent guests include John Legend, India Arie, Seal, Dave Matthews, Jeff Beck, Chaka Khan, Tedeschi & Trucks, The Chieftains and Los Lobos.

Background

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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.[11] 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.[12] It was released in CD, digital download and vinyl.

Reception

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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".[13] 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".[14]

Track listing

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Personnel

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Credits adapted from AllMusic[18]

  • 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

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Poland (ZPAV)[29] Gold 10,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.

References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
The Imagine Project is the 41st studio album by American jazz and , released on June 22, 2010, through Hancock Records. The project reinterprets classic pop, folk, and songs through cross-cultural collaborations with over 20 international artists, emphasizing themes of global unity and peace inspired by John Lennon's "Imagine," with recordings conducted in seven countries including the , , and . Hancock's core band—bassist , drummer , percussionist , and guitarist —provides the foundation, joined by guests such as P!nk, Seal, , , , , , , , and . The album opens with a worldbeat-infused cover of "Imagine" featuring vocals from P!nk, Seal, , and others, alongside tracks like "Don't Give Up" with Pink and , and "The Song Goes On" with . Accompanied by a of the same name chronicling the recording process, The Imagine Project received mixed critical reception for its ambitious genre-blending but limited , though it achieved commercial success. At the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards in 2011, the album earned two wins: Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for "Imagine" and Best Improvised Jazz Solo for Hancock's performance on "A Change Is Gonna Come." This marked a continuation of Hancock's pattern of fusing jazz with popular music, following his 2007 Album of the Year win for River: The Joni Letters.

Origins and Development

Conception

The conception of The Imagine Project emerged serendipitously during Herbie Hancock's 2009 trip to alongside , marking the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s visit to study Gandhi's principles of non-violence. Hancock, already scheduled for events there, identified a brief window amid the itinerary to initiate recordings with producer , transforming an opportunistic session into the foundation of a broader global initiative. The inaugural track, "The Song Goes On"—an adaptation of a poem—encapsulated this emergent vision, blending English lyrics with and elements performed by Indian vocalist , who relied on phonetic translations to navigate the multilingual arrangement. This approach underscored Hancock's intent to harness 's universality as a conduit for cross-cultural dialogue, emphasizing shared humanity over division amid contemporary challenges like and economic instability. Hancock articulated the project's core philosophy as promoting peace through collaborative reinterpretations of existing songs, rather than original compositions, to evoke hope and proactive unity without descending into protest. Over subsequent years, this seed expanded into sessions across seven countries, prioritizing diverse artists to reflect interconnected human narratives while maintaining a structured vision co-developed with Klein.

Recording Sessions

The recording sessions for The Imagine Project spanned several years and involved travel to seven countries, including the , , , , , , and , to facilitate collaborations with international musicians. Hancock aimed to capture diverse cultural influences by recording on location with artists such as in and in , emphasizing live interactions over remote contributions where possible. Key studios included in London for sessions with guests like and ; Guillaume Tell Studios in ; Africa Studio in , ; and Garage Sale Studios in , which also served as the primary mixing site under engineer Helik Hadar. Many sessions were filmed to produce accompanying footage, later released as part of promotional content and streamed on platforms like , highlighting the improvisational and cross-cultural recording process. Hancock later described the project as "the hardest record I've ever made," citing logistical challenges in coordinating global talent and integrating varied musical styles into cohesive tracks. While some elements were assembled digitally piece-by-piece, the emphasis on in-person recording in remote locations underscored the album's theme of unity through shared creativity. Final mastering occurred at Bernie Grundman Mastering in Hollywood, .

Production and Content

Track Listing and Song Selections

The Imagine Project consists of ten tracks, all covers of existing songs selected by Hancock to evoke themes of hope, unity, and through musical fusion. Recorded across seven countries, the selections emphasize reinterpretations that blend genres like , rock, , and pop, incorporating artists from diverse regions to underscore global interconnectedness. The track listing is as follows: Hancock's criteria for song choices prioritized lyrics and melodies capable of transcending cultural boundaries, often adapting them to include non-Western influences—for instance, "Imagine" drew rhythmic inspiration from the Congolese group Konono N°1, while "Tamatant Tilay / Exodus" fused Tuareg grooves with elements evoking Bob Marley's adaptation to symbolize migration and resilience. "Tempo de Amor" was proposed by Brazilian singer Céu for its samba roots, recorded in Portuguese to preserve authenticity, and "La Tierra" was selected after Hancock encountered Juanes' performance online, aligning with its message of borderless peace. Many selections hail from the 1960s and 1970s singer-songwriter era, chosen for their enduring emotional resonance and alignment with the album's aim of fostering collaborative optimism amid global challenges like economic strife. This approach avoided overt protest in favor of celebratory reinterpretations, serving the songs' inherent messages while highlighting performers' cultural strengths.

Personnel and Collaborations

The album was co-produced by and bassist , with additional production contributions from , , , and John Alagia on select tracks. Executive producers included Alan Mintz and Melinda Murphy, while mixing was handled by Helik Hadar and mastering by . Engineering involved a team that included Bill Winn, Bobby Tis, and Eric Schilling, reflecting the project's multi-location recording sessions across studios in the United States, , and . Hancock served as the primary instrumentalist on and keyboards for all tracks, supported by a core comprising bassist , drummer , percussionist , and guitarist . Additional consistent contributors included keyboardists George Whitty and Larry Goldings, with guest bassists such as and , and drummers like and . Percussion and ethnic instruments featured extensively, with players like , Rhani Krija, and on kora, underscoring the album's emphasis on global fusion. Collaborations formed the album's centerpiece, drawing over 40 guest artists from diverse genres and regions to reinterpret songs with cross-cultural elements. Vocalists included P!nk and Seal on the title track "Imagine," John and P!nk on "Don't Give Up," and on "Imagine," and on "The Song Goes On," James Morrison on "Space Cowboy," and on "Gimmie Shelter." International guests encompassed Malian group and singer on "Sahara," Congolese collective Konono N°1 on "Imagine," Colombian rocker on "," Brazilian singer on "Tempo di Amore," and Irish traditional ensemble on "The Song Goes On" alongside Anoushka Shankar's and Wayne Shorter's . Guitar highlights featured on "Imagine" and on "Gimmie Shelter" and as co-producer. provided vocals and guitar on tracks like "Movin' On Up," while contributed to "." This roster, recorded in locales from to , aimed to foster musical dialogue across borders, though some critics noted the challenges of integrating such varied styles cohesively.

Release and Commercial Aspects

Promotion and Distribution

The Imagine Project was released on June 22, 2010, through , with distribution managed by , a Entertainment subsidiary, enabling wide availability in physical CD and digital formats via retailers such as Amazon and . International editions followed standard major-label channels under affiliates in regions like and , though specific territorial deals emphasized the album's global recording origins. Promotion centered on the album's theme of cross-cultural collaboration, with early announcements in September 2009 highlighting sessions in over a dozen countries to generate media interest in its unity-focused message. An accompanying , capturing live performances and studio footage from these sessions, served as a key marketing tool, released on DVD and streamed in full on starting June 18, 2010, to build anticipation ahead of the album launch. Hancock supported the release with live tours, including U.S. dates in fall 2010 and events tied to his 70th birthday, such as tributes at on June 24, 2010, featuring select collaborators to showcase tracks like the title song with P!nk and Seal. These efforts leveraged the star power of guests—including , , and —for press coverage and electronic press kits (EPKs) distributed to outlets.

Chart Performance and Sales

The Imagine Project debuted at number 54 on the chart in the week ending July 3, 2010. It simultaneously reached number 1 on the Top Contemporary Albums chart, marking Hancock's strong performance within the jazz genre despite broader mainstream challenges. Internationally, the album achieved modest chart placements, reflecting its niche appeal as a collaborative jazz-pop project. In , it sold 5,000 copies, contributing to its ranking of 1,394 among albums released in 2010. No major certifications were reported outside potential regional recognitions based on limited shipments. Overall sales figures remain sparse, underscoring the album's targeted rather than mass-market reception following Hancock's prior Grammy-winning River: The Joni Letters.

Certifications

The Imagine Project earned a gold certification in Poland from ZPAV (Związek Producentów Audio-Video), the Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry, for sales surpassing 5,000 units, awarded in 2010. This recognition was presented to by representatives of Sony Music Poland during promotional activities for the album. No certifications from major bodies such as the RIAA in the United States or BPI in the United Kingdom have been reported for the album.

Reception and Analysis

Critical Evaluations

Critics offered mixed evaluations of The Imagine Project, commending its ambitious multinational collaborations and polished production while faulting its inconsistency, diluted elements, and occasional overproduction. Reviewers noted the album's intent to promote global unity through covers of peace-themed songs, but many argued it prioritized star power over musical cohesion, resulting in a "spotty and inconsistent" collection despite sonic appeal. Strengths highlighted included standout tracks demonstrating effective genre fusion, such as the blues-infused "Space Captain" featuring and , praised for its soulful grit, gospel harmonies, and live-recorded energy. "Tempo de Amor," with Brazilian singer , was lauded for its delicate piano work by Hancock and simple Latin rhythms, evoking emotional depth. The closing "The Song Goes On," incorporating Anoushka Shankar's sitar, Wayne Shorter's soprano saxophone, and Chaka Khan's vocals, received acclaim for Hancock's most engaged piano performance and seamless intercultural interplay. Aggregated critic scores reflected this ambivalence, averaging around 65 out of 100 on platforms compiling professional reviews. Criticisms centered on the album's unevenness and perceived lack of risk, with AllMusic's Thom Jurek calling it an "overreach" that felt like a calculated Grammy bid rather than innovative, citing overwrought vocals on the title track "Imagine" by and Seal, and mismatched choices like on "." critiqued its eclecticism as disjointed, with excessive guest features undermining coherence on tracks like "The Times They Are a-Changin'," despite global instrumentation from and . Jazz-focused outlets, such as All About Jazz, acknowledged the pop-leaning result as diverting from Hancock's improvisational roots, appealing more to broad audiences than purists. Some reviewers, like those at Critics at Large, viewed the project's good intentions as undermined by contrived arrangements pieced together across recording locations, diluting thematic impact.

Commercial and Cultural Impact

The Imagine Project achieved moderate commercial performance within the jazz genre, peaking at number two on the Jazz Albums chart for two weeks and maintaining a presence on the chart for 28 weeks as of early 2011. It debuted at number 32 on the upon its June 22, 2010 release, reflecting crossover appeal from high-profile collaborations but falling short of blockbuster status compared to Hancock's prior efforts like River: The Joni Letters, which exceeded 750,000 units sold worldwide. Available sales data indicate limited penetration in select markets, with 5,000 units certified in and an overall 2010 global ranking of 1394, underscoring its niche rather than mainstream commercial dominance. Culturally, the album advanced Hancock's vision of music as a vehicle for intercultural dialogue and global unity, drawing on John Lennon's peace-themed lyrics through recordings in seven countries with artists from diverse traditions, such as Indian classical influences on tracks featuring . This cross-pollination of , pop, and world elements exemplified Hancock's longstanding strategy of genre fusion to broaden audiences, echoing successful precedents like Santana's while emphasizing humanistic themes over pure market appeal. The project's ethos extended to Hancock's role, informing later endeavors like the 2012 launch of International Jazz Day to promote tolerance and planetary respect via collaborative artistry.

Awards and Recognitions

The Imagine Project earned two at the held on February 13, 2011. It received Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for the track "Imagine", featuring alongside , , Seal, Konono Nº1, and . The album also won Best Improvised Jazz Solo for Hancock's performance on "", a cover of Sam Cooke's civil rights-era song featuring vocals by . Prior to the wins, the project secured three Grammy nominations announced on , , including the two victorious categories and an additional nod in a jazz-related field. These accolades highlighted the album's blend of global collaborations and reinterpretations of socially conscious material, though no further major awards or specialized recognitions, such as those from jazz-specific bodies like the Jazz Journalists Association, were documented for the release.

Legacy and Retrospective Views

Long-term Influence

The Imagine Project contributed to Herbie Hancock's enduring reputation for fostering intercultural dialogue through music, aligning with his appointment as a for Intercultural Dialogue in 2011, shortly after the album's release. By recording tracks in seven countries and featuring artists from regions including , , and the —such as Konono N°1 from the Democratic Republic of Congo and from —the project demonstrated music's capacity to bridge cultural divides, a theme Hancock emphasized in subsequent reflections on jazz's humanistic roots. Its two Grammy Awards in 2011—Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for the title track "Imagine" and Best Improvised Jazz Solo for Hancock's performance on "A Change Is Gonna Come"—underscored its success in merging with pop and elements, influencing perceptions of genre fusion as viable for mainstream acclaim without diluting artistic intent. Retrospective analyses, such as a 2023 public radio profile, credit the album with exemplifying Hancock's use of collaborative recordings to promote and global unity, extending his earlier boundary-pushing works like the 1970s into a more explicitly international framework. However, critics in later reviews have noted that while it popularized globalist themes in -adjacent projects, it prioritized high-profile guest appearances over innovative structures, limiting its transformative impact on the genre itself compared to Hancock's fusion-era breakthroughs. By 2025, marking the album's 15th anniversary, official commemorations highlighted its role in assembling diverse musical legends for socially conscious ends, though it has not spawned direct imitators or shifts in pedagogy, instead serving as a capstone to Hancock's career-spanning advocacy for music's unifying potential.

Criticisms of Artistic Approach

Critics have faulted The Imagine Project's artistic approach for its uneven execution and fragmented cohesion, often portraying it as a "spotty collection" of tracks that juggle disparate global styles without a unifying vision, resulting in a "crazy " of interpretations rather than sustained depth. The reliance on over 60 musicians across 10 songs, recorded in multiple studios worldwide, frequently diluted Hancock's keyboard presence, relegating his contributions to supportive roles amid vocal-heavy arrangements and guest-dominated spotlights. This collaborative emphasis, while ambitious in scope, was criticized for prioritizing accessibility and politeness over bold reinvention, as seen in tracks like the Beatles' "," which lacked melodic or innovation. A recurring critique centered on the album's diminished jazz elements, positioning it as an even less -oriented effort than Hancock's prior release River: The Joni Letters, with his often slipping into the background to accommodate pop and rock vocalists like and Seal. Reviewers argued that this shift stifled Hancock's creativity, transforming him into a "mere session man" whose improvisational flair was constrained by unchallenging, middle-of-the-road structures designed for broad commercial appeal rather than artistic risk. Exceptions, such as the "unabashedly jazzy" reading of Sam Cooke's "," highlighted what was absent elsewhere, underscoring a formulaic style that entertained boomer audiences but offered few surprises for those expecting Hancock's signature depth. Overall, the project's global unity theme was viewed as well-intentioned yet superficial in musical realization, generating "little sustained magic" through its patchwork of genres and overdependence on star power, which compromised originality and left Hancock's potential underutilized.

References

  1. https://www.[allmusic](/page/AllMusic).com/album/the-imagine-project-mw0001969784/credits
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