Sextant is the eleventh studio album by Herbie Hancock, released in 1973 by Columbia. It is the last album with the Mwandishi-era sextet featuring saxophonist Bennie Maupin, trumpeter Eddie Henderson, trombonist Julian Priester, bassist Buster Williams and drummer Billy Hart. Synthesizer player Patrick Gleeson and percussionist Buck Clarke also appear. Background Released on March 30, 1973, Sextant was Herbie Hancock's first album on Columbia Records, and the last with his Mwandishi-era group. The album showcased Hancock's early adoption of synthesizers and electronic effects. Upon release, the record was considered to be a commercial flop. Critical reception AllMusic called the album a "gem" which features "a kind of post-modal, free impressionism while gracing the edges of funk." Rolling Stone wrote that, "taking his cue from [Miles] Davis' swirling, anarchic Bitches Brew and On the Corner, Hancock went even further into outer space [...] much of Sextant, with its twittering, burbling effects, amounts to a primitive version of Nineties ambient music." The album was called an "uncompromising avant-funk masterpiece" by Paste Magazine. Track listing All songs by Herbie Hancock Personnel Mwandishi (Herbie Hancock) – piano, Fender Rhodes, clavinet, Mellotron, ARP 2600, ARP Pro Soloist, Moog synthesizer Mwile (Bennie Maupin) – soprano saxophone, bass clarinet, piccolo, afuche Mganga (Eddie Henderson) – trumpet, flugelhorn Pepo (Julian Priester) – bass trombone, tenor trombone, alto trombone, cowbell Mchezaji (Buster Williams) – bass guitar, double bass Jabali (Billy Hart) – drums Patrick Gleeson – ARP 2600, ARP Pro Soloist Buck Clarke – percussion References External links Sextant at Discogs 1973 albums Columbia Records albums Herbie Hancock albums Albums produced by Dave Rubinson Albums recorded at Wally Heider Studios Albums with cover art by Mati Klarwein Jazz fusion albums by American artists