Bobby Hutcherson
July 2001

Best of the Blue Note Years
Blue Note
2001

Reviewed By
Michael Fortuna

Photo Credit
John Ballon

Bobby Hutcherson, one the handful of vibraphonists to enjoy successful careers as both a jazz instrumentalist and a composer, inherited the musical legacy built by Lionel Hampton and Red Norvo and extended the virtuoso innovations developed by Milt Jackson. Credited, along with Gary Burton, with ushering what was essentially a novelty instrument into the modern era, Hutcherson in turn influenced the few musicians who chose to follow in his footsteps, including the current keeper of the flame, Stefon Harris. A native of L.A., Hutcherson performed locally with Curtis Amy and Charles Lloyd as well as with a quintet co-led by Al Grey and Billy Mitchell which brought him to N.Y. in 1961 when he was 20 years old. Remaining in the Big Apple, he began performing with a visionary group of artists including Jackie McLean, Grachan Moncur III, Charles Tolliver, Archie Shepp, Eric Dolphy, Hank Mobley and Herbie Hancock. As a result of these associations, in 1963 Hutcherson began appearing as a sideman on several Blue Note albums that would become classics including McLean's One Step Beyond, Moncur's Evolution, Hill's Judgment and Dolphy's Out To Lunch.

It would be easy -- based on his work on these recordings and on Dialogue, his 1965 Blue Note debut as a leader which features Sam Rivers and Freddie Hubbard -- to pigeon hole Hutcherson as a member of the avant garde. Yet he was equally at home playing the blues, as he does with authority on Grant Green's Idle Moments and his own album The Kicker, a soulful, swinging session from 1963 which was actually the vibraphonist's first as a leader even though it was not released until the fall of 1999. Hutcherson appeared on several other Blue Note titles as a leader and sideman during the course of an association with the label that lasted until 1977. Stick-Up from 1966 which, like The Kicker, features tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson, is also notable for the dynamic playing of the irrepressible drummer Billy Higgins. It is also Hutcherson's first recording with pianist McCoy Tyner with whom he would make the duo album Manhattan Moods in 1993.

Concert Review: Bobby Hutcherson @ Yoshi's

Read more about Bobby Hutcherson at JazzSteps.com.