Possibilities

1	Stitched Up / John Mayer 5:27
2	Safiatou / Angélique Kidjo 5:25
3	A Song for You / Christina Aguilera 7:05
4	I Do It for Your Love 5:58
5	Hush, Hush, Hush / Annie Lennox 4:46
6	Sister Moon 6:54
7	When Love Comes to Town / Joss Stone 8:41
8	Don't Explain / Lisa Hannigan 4:53
9	I Just Called to Say I Love You / Raul Midón 5:27
10	Gelo Na Montanha / Trey Anastasio 3:48

Barnes & Noble

He may be best known as a jazz keyboardist and as one of Miles Davis's storied sidemen, but Herbie Hancock's wanderlust has found him frequently crossing over to the world of popular music, from his 1983 Grammy-winning smash "Rock It" to his dip into the Great American Songbook on 1995's The New Standard. With Possibilities, Hancock casts his musical net even wider, collaborating with an unusual cross-section of pop artists. For example, Christina Aguilera notably transcends her bubblegum roots by cutting loose on Leon Russell's "A Song for You" in a manner befitting her idol Etta James, while John Mayer posits some raspy vocal phrasing on "Stitched Up," which, when paired with Hancock's jazz-funk sound, recalls vintage Steely Dan. Other noteworthy performances include Carlos Santana's fiery guitar playing and Angélique Kidjo's robust vocalizing over a saucy Latin shuffle on "Safiatou," which reverberates with the spirit of the late Celia Cruz. Hancock's otherwise unobtrusive presence edges to the fore on certain cuts, particularly Annie Lennox's aching rendition of Paula Cole's "Hush Hush Hush," where the skilled pianist's playing shifts from uplifting to subdued amid the faintest hint of strings. Likewise, Hancock's playing lends a melancholy ambiance to a version of Billie Holiday's "Don't Explain," presented as a smoky duet by Damien Rice and Lisa Hannigan. Most intriguing is a lush and significantly slowed down reading of Stevie Wonder's "I Just Called to Say I Love You," on which Raul Midón croons atop a gradually unfurling blanket of orchestration. Even in his golden years, Herbie Hancock is still challenging creative boundaries -- and transcending categorization. Dave Gil de Rubio

All Music Guide

Possibilities is a Herbie Hancock adventure record. This ten-cut smorgasbord features the ever restless pianist, composer, and arranger in the company of literally dozens of artists, from pop singers like Christina Aguilera, Sting, and Annie Lennox to rock legends such as Santana and Paul Simon to relative newcomers like John Mayer, Jonny Lang, and Joss Stone, as well as some renowned international performers, such as Angélique Kidjo and Raul Midón in a wide range of songs, styles, and moods. Hancock cut the record in studios all over the world, all the collaborations were done face to face, not long distance. Session musicians here include everyone from Stevie Wonder (who plays the harmonica solo on the cover of his tune "I Just Called to Say I Love You"), to Santana to Cyro Baptista, Willie Weeks, John Pattitucci, Steven Jordan, and Gina Gershon (the actress)! The standout cuts are the sensual read of Leon Russell's "A Song for You," sung by Aguilera, Simon's jazzed-up revisioning of his "I Do It for Your Love," and Lennox's read of "Hush, Hush, Hush," written by Paula Cole (whatever happened to her?). Jazz fans may be disappointed, but pop fans will be delighted; there is a lot here to like. Thom Jurek