Herbie Hancock had just released his first album for the Mercury label, after a long recording career with Blue Note and then Columbia Records. I was excited to get the chance to speak with him for the first time in 1995. Herbie’s album’s had always been rhythmically exciting, but this one especially caught my ear because of the name, Dis Is Da Drum. I spoke with him by phone for Modern Drummer magazine, and you can hear several of his comments about drums, the rhythm of life, and the growing influence of jazz on hip hop.

1. Herbie Hancock discusses Dis Is Da Drum. “Dis Is Da Drum (Funky Serengeti Mix)” from Dis Is Da Drum, Mercury (1995)
2. Herbie Hancock laughs loud and clear. “Dis Is Da Drum (Funky Serengeti Mix)” from Dis Is Da Drum, Mercury (1995)
3. Herbie Hancock talks hip hop and jazz. “Butterfly (Funky Backbeat Mix),”  from Dis Is Da Drum, Mercury (1995)

Herbie Hancock Spinterview - Dis Is Da Drum

Spinterview is a way for listeners to hear the finest jazz, funk, rock and soul, played on rare vinyl, along with the voices of the artists who actually created the music, taken from exclusive interviews and mixed together “live” by internationally read music journalist/drummer/DJ Robin Tolleson.

In a 35-year writing career, Tolleson has published nearly 1500 articles for such magazines as Billboard, Downbeat, Bass Player, Guitar Player, Jazz Times, Mix, Modern Drummer, Musician, Performer and Wind Player.

The Spinterview web archive will be coming soon to spinterview.media