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One of the most sublime albums of all time, "Maiden Voyage" represents not only the pinnacle of Herbie Hancock's late 60s acoustic work, but quite possibly that of his entire career. Striking a perfect balance between mainstream Hard Bop and the more avant-garde jazz of the era, each track is a masterpiece that manages to combine melodious lyricism with levels of rhythmic and tonal complexity in a way that is virtually unrivalled even to this day, proving definitively that one needn't sacrifice accessibility on the altar of experimentation. Relaxing without being sedative, deep without being impenetrable, and tuneful without ever feeling condescending, "Maiden Voyage" is an absolutely essential album for every jazz aficianado to have in their collection, and as the title implies (whether intentionally or coincidentally), one that also makes a terrific point of entry for anyone unfamiliar with the genre who might be seeking a starting point from which to begin experiencing the world of jazz.