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The Herbie Hancock Trio is an album by Herbie Hancock released in September 21, 1977 in Japan. It includes performances with Ron Carter and Tony Williams. The second selection of six tracks recorded by the trio during the same day’s sessions was released under Ron Carter’s name as Third Plane. This is the first of two albums with the same title. A second Herbie Hancock Trio with the same personnel was released in 1982.

The first V.S.O.P. tour triggered a flood of recording activity in July 1977, but only a fraction of it was released in the U.S. This session, recorded in San Francisco just days before the Quintet concerts in Berkeley and San Diego, finds Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, and Tony Williams mixing it up sans the horns — and the results are more reflective and cerebral than the full Quintet concerts. Hancock is thoroughly in control of the agenda while Williams throws in those meter-fracturing flurries that keep everyone on their toes. There is a startling re-interpretation of “Speak Like a Child,” which is significantly tougher and busier than the wistful Blue Note version, as well as challenging Hancock originals like “Watcha Waiting For” and “Watch It.” This is uncompromising acoustic jazz, commercial anathema in the electronic ’70s — and thus, only Japan got to hear it (Richard S. Ginell/AllMusic, http://bit.ly/2JQJuCI).

Track listing:
“Watch It” (Herbie Hancock) – 12:25
“Speak Like a Child” (Herbie Hancock) – 13:06
“Watcha Waitin’ For” (Herbie Hancock) – 6:20
“Look” (Herbie Hancock) – 7:42
“Milestones” (Miles Davis) – 6:40

Personnel:
Herbie Hancock – piano
Ron Carter – bass
Tony Williams – drums

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Released: September 21, 1977
Recorded: July 13, 1977
Length: 46:13
Label: CBS/Sony 25AP-650
Producer: David Rubinson