Search - Andrew Hill :: Dusk

As classic as any of his 1960's sessions ...

Troy Collins | Lancaster, PA United States | 05/16/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It is unfortunately rare that I buy an album by a aging jazz great nowadays. Considering the ridiculous attempts to market them to a younger audience that most major labels have used to try and sell acknowledged masters of the form, it's no wonder that most of the old masters just stick to live gigs while disavowing studio recordings. Just look at Joe Henderson's unfortunate career choices with Verve and their ridiculous "concept / tribute" album series that they inflicted on him for the whole of the 1990s. And Horace Silver and McCoy Tyner's cheesy come-back albums on the revived but impotent Impulse! Label. Other than the major label fluke's that produced the last Cecil Taylor and Steve Lacy albums on Verve, there is a serious absence of recent vintage quality recordings by the medium's masters. That is where this disc comes in. It is one of those rare gems.Andrew Hill is the artist responsible for Blue Note's mid sixties masterpiece "Point of Departure" a ground breaking semi-free album featuring the diverse talents of Joe Henderson, Eric Dolphy, Kenny Dorham and Tony Williams. A landmark album in many critics eyes, it established Hill's reputation as a writer of tricky but memorable changes and tempos. A free-er cousin to Oliver Nelson?s "Blues and the Abstract Truth", it is still a jazz musician?s favorite to this day.Dusk is his first recording in 10 years, fortunately it's on an indie label. Do not let the title fool you, this is no dreary album by a washed-up, arthritic jazz pianist. His playing is as strong and creative as ever. His sextett features among the finest of today's young talent and there is fire and passion in their playing. It has the overall feel of an old Blue Note disc from the sixties, but with an aggreassive streak that can only come from a post-Coltrane world. Marty Ehrlich and Greg Tardy contribute saxophone duties and Tardy's playing on "15/8" is especially fearsome. Ron Horton is an up and coming new trumpet prodigy and his playing shows unique promise. Billy Drummond's drumming and Scott Colley's bass playing keep the majority of the tunes moving along briskly. And Andrew is no slouch either. As good as his playing is, it?s his ensemble writing that is even better. Nice, thick, polyphonic horn charts float over catchy shuffle vamps and multi-part compositions to create a tasty retro feel that is suitably updated to the current Downtown jazz scene's sense of aesthetics.If you're looking for a swinging jazz album that isn't too "out there", but has some grit to it and some great writing, this is one for you."

Romance, groove, freedom - this album has it all

Ian Muldoon | Coffs Harbour, NSW Australia | 06/20/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have a suspicion that Mr Hill approaches the great Mr Thelonious Monk in the quality of his writing and playing - take SEPTET from the CD DUSK as an example: Mr Horton's trumpet soars over a group improvisation; Mr Ehrlich's superb alto solo (herein confined to alto and on one track bass clarinet though this is not noted on the CD sleeve); followed by Mr Tardy's equally effective reply; as well as the beautiful colour in Mr Drummond's drum solo - and this track is just 12 minutes of this fabulous disk. As is usual with a recording led by Mr Hill all the compositions are his, the first three and last four of which are septet arrangements whilst the fourth TOUGH LOVE is a seven minute quirky, heartfelt, angular piano solo - speaking of which I unreservedly recommend his FROM CALIFORNIA WITH LOVE (Artists House) and VERONA RAG(Soul Note) - solo albums both. But on the CD DUSK, there's 'groove' on BALL SQUARE and take note of the close where free form blowing by all is followed by a short drum solo the brief chorus and out - what a close! There's 'ecstasy' on the alto solo climax of 15/8. There's 'sounds dark' with two bass clarinets on TC an exhilaration in memory of a brilliant musical creator Mr Thomas Chapin. But, dear listener, you could just focus on the bass of Mr Colley on TC which seems to have a major voice (and not just on this track) - plucked or arco - whether in trio or with the piano in the latter part of TC - it's a masterful performance. Unquestionably these musicians are at the top of their game, but they are brought to a higher level on this CD by having their talents interpret the writing, be guided by the arrangements and follow the guidance provided by Mr Hill whose integrity of vision for America's classical music has been unwavering for the good part of 40 years. He's nothing less than a national treasure."

A nice session from an under-recorded master

p dizzle | augusta, georgia, USA | 07/20/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"mr. hill records so rarely that a review of less than five stars seems risky because he is an artist that deserves much wider recognition. most folks know him from a series of classic blue note records from the mid-sixties that were an adventurous blend of the free jazz of fellow blue noters cecil taylor, ornette coleman, and don cherry and the more straight hard bop of duke pearson and sonny clark, also mainstays at blue note(check out the bonafied five-star "point of departure"). "dusk" reveals mr. hill still working that fertile territory. "15/8" positively explodes out of the cd player as the soloists push and reach further with each passing bar, sort of like a sun ra piece. but then there is "tough love," a cerebral solo piano piece revealing an introspective artist meditating on a theme a la keith jarrett. mr. hill is master pianist, and this reviewer wishes there had been more solo work on this album. however, the talent in the septet is extraordinary. marty ehrlich (on sax)in particular is a talent deserving wider recognition. they really shine as an ensemble on the longer pieces "dusk," "sept," and the aforementioned "15/8." the sound is broad, ranging from the cool bop of blue note to free explorations to quiet studies of theme and form. this album makes you wish mr. hill put out an album a year!"