Miles Davis Turned Herbie Hancock's Mistake Into a Lesson in Improvisation
In a short video, jazz pianist Herbie Hancock recalls a performance with Miles Davis where he played a wrong chord. Instead of reacting negatively, Davis incorporated the mistake into his playing, demonstrating that errors can be creative opportunities. Hancock says the experience taught him a profound lesson about music and life. The video draws on Brian Eno's Oblique Strategy: "Honor Thy Error as a Hidden Intention." The article also cites examples of deliberate mistakes in recordings by The Beatles, Beastie Boys, and Radiohead.
Key facts
- Herbie Hancock played a wrong chord during a performance with Miles Davis.
- Miles Davis responded by playing along with the mistake, treating it as intentional.
- Hancock said the experience taught him a lesson about music and life.
- The video references Brian Eno's Oblique Strategy 'Honor Thy Error as a Hidden Intention.'
- The article mentions mistakes in recordings by The Beatles, Beastie Boys, and Radiohead.
- The Beatles left an alarm clock sound on 'A Day in the Life.'
- Beastie Boys left a jumping needle on 'The Sounds of Science.'
- Radiohead left Jonny Greenwood's warm-up chord on 'Creep.'
Entities
Artists
- Miles Davis
- Herbie Hancock
- Brian Eno
- The Beatles
- Beastie Boys
- Radiohead
- Jonny Greenwood
- Ted Mills
Institutions
- Open Culture