The Maze is an instrumental jazz tune composed by Herbie Hancock and recorded on 28 May 1962 at Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs. It was first released in October 1962 on the Blue Note album Takin' Off, Hancock's debut as leader, produced by Alfred Lion. The Maze is the side-two track, running 6:45. The personnel are Hancock on piano, Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Dexter Gordon on tenor saxophone, Butch Warren on double bass and Billy Higgins on drums. The tune is in the key of E.
All six tracks on Takin' Off are Hancock compositions. The album is described as a creative example of the hard bop idiom and is classed as soul jazz and hard bop. It was reviewed by AllMusic (3 stars), Down Beat (3.5/5), the Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide (4/5) and the Penguin Guide (3.5/4). Its best-known track is Watermelon Man. Hancock is the only credited writer of The Maze.
