Search - Bobby Hutcherson :: Solo Quartet

A memorable outing in a long and highly successful career

Jan P. Dennis | Monument, CO USA | 02/05/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I fell in love with this disc (well, record back then) when it first came out in 1982. I was just then getting into creative improvised music, and the magical, dancing quality of the music contained herein greatly helped usher me into the mysteries of jazz.When I listen to it more than two decades later, it still retains its power to transport me into zones of pure delight. This is just one of those special sessions: a killer band, including McCoy Tyner (piano) and Billy Higgins (drums), at the absolute top of their form; a wonderfully intimate and detailed recording, fully revealing the glorious musical conversations unfolding so naturally in each of the pieces; and Hutcherson playing with a magical suppleness, with that waterfall-like effect of notes cascading, tumbling out of his instrument. Add to that what I believe are the leader's two greatest compositions, "La Alhambra" and "Messina," with that eerily beautiful Andulusian thing going full bore, and you've got music of the absolute highest order.This record's a little unusual in that features Hutcherson in two very different settings, solo and quartet. On the three solo tracks, he's overdubbed on several mallet and percussion instruments. These pieces are hugely evocative and inventive, given the inherently limited sonorities and rhythmic possibilities of such an approach. It's an indication of his resourfulness that the listener's interest never flags, and that he's consistently able to create a soundscape and sonic signature of great subtly and complexity.As intriguing as these are, however, I'm even more taken by the four quartet numbers. As mentioned above, the Hutcherson originals are simply spectacular. But his take on a couple standards, "Old Devil Moon" and "My Foolish Heart," is every bit as beguiling. If you're a newcomer to the world of jazz, there could hardly be a finer entre into its glories than this enchanting disc. If you're an old hand and have somehow missed this session, you'll certainly want to add it to your collection.Absolutely highest recommendation."