The Collector is an original composition by Herbie Hancock, also known by the alternate title Teo's Bag. Hancock composed the tune during his early Blue Note period and first recorded it for his landmark 1965 album Maiden Voyage, a session that also produced such enduring works as Dolphin Dance and the title track. The composition reflects Hancock's impressionistic approach to harmony and form from this era, featuring abstract melodic writing and sophisticated chord changes suited to group improvisation. Miles Davis later recorded the piece in 1968, releasing it in 1980 under the title Teo's Bag. The version featured on AllSolos comes from Wayne Shorter's 1966 album Adam's Apple, where Hancock appeared as pianist alongside Shorter on tenor saxophone, Reggie Workman on bass, and Joe Chambers on drums. On this recording, solos are available from all four musicians. The tune's inclusion on Adam's Apple, where it was the sole non-Shorter composition among the six tracks, speaks to the close creative relationship between the two composers during their overlapping Blue Note years. While The Collector has not achieved the wide currency of Hancock standards like Cantaloupe Island or Watermelon Man, it remains a rewarding deep cut that showcases his gift for crafting harmonically rich frameworks for collective improvisation.
