Maiden Voyage (composition)

It features Hancock's quartet – trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, bassist Ron Carter and drummer Tony Williams – together with saxophonist George Coleman.

[3] The piece was used in a Yardley commercial and was originally listed on the album's master tape as "TV Jingle" until a friend of Hancock's sister came up with the new name.

Interviewed for KCET TV in 2011, Hancock said he considered Maiden Voyage to be his favorite of all of the compositions he had written.

[5] A modal jazz piece, the composition follows a 32-bar AABA form with only two chords in each section:[8] There are several different perspectives on exactly how to label or interpret these harmonies.

The Real Book erroneously spells the fourth chord (measures 22-24) as A♭-7/D♭,[11] while Owens correctly identifies it as C♯m13.

"Maiden Voyage" opening vamp : D sus chord in D Dorian , [ 1 ] or mixolydian . [ 2 ] Play ⓘ
Opening chord: minor eleventh chord (Am9/D). [ 6 ] Play ⓘ
Rhythmic ostinato, a transformation of the bossa nova rhythm. [ 7 ]