''Takin' Off'' is the debut album of jazz pianist Herbie Hancock originally released on May 28, 1962 for the Blue Note label as BST 84109. The recording session included Freddie Hubbard on trumpet and veteran Dexter Gordon on tenor saxophone. The album was a typical hard bop LP, with its characteristic two horns and a rhythm section. The bluesy single "Watermelon Man" made it to the Top 100 of the pop charts, and went on to become a jazz standard. The album has been called "one of the most accomplished and stunning debuts in the annals of jazz." It was released on CD support in 1996 with three alternate takes and then remastered in 2007 by Van Gelder. The 2007 edition features new liner notes by Bob Blumenthal. - Wikipedia