Search - Bobby Hutcherson :: Stick Up

Good vibes

Tyler Smith | Denver, CO United States | 01/27/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Bobby has it all together on this 1966 release. His vibes ring like bells, his band is tight, and the compositions are stellar. This is great mainstream Blue Note stuff, but the work is challenging and it makes for rewarding listening.Three tracks stand out for me. The angular and rhythmically unpredictable "8/4" features fine interplay between Hutcherson, tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson and pianist McCoy Tyner. "Summer Nights" is a lovely ballad that displays Bobby's lucid tone and lyrical touch. It also offers a good early look at the way he meshed his sound with Tyner's. The two would go on to develop that partnership in the '80s and '90s. "Verse," which Hutcherson says in the liner notes refers to the literary sense of the word, is indeed an aural poem and one of satisfyingly controlled intensity. It starts out slowly but builds in power with Henderson delivering a particularly inspired performance.This is Blue Note at its best: great musicians playing with fire and inspiration on well-crafted material. Never a dull moment."

An album of "transformation" and "transportation"!

Blake S. | Alberta, Canada | 04/29/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album is an underrated classic. "Una Muy Bonita" is the ultimate in cool swank: it swaggers out of your speakers and transforms your soul through its rhythmic beat and fun feel. "Summer Nights" really struck me as well: this pituresque tune can transport you to a quiet moment when you've drawn away from the crowd for a moment to have a quick smoke by yourself...you can hear the rain falling at night and the cocktail party going on in the background all at once. "Stick-Up" made me a fan of Bobby Hutcherson. You can waste your time borrowing this from the library to see if you'll like it, but falling for this album is only a matter of time."