What jazz music are you listening to?

[bart]

Originally Posted by bart

Andrew Hill - Black Fire
Qobuz 24/192




Hill's first Blue Note album, recorded in '63.
5 stars from AllMusic.

Andrew Hill – piano
Joe Henderson – saxophone
Richard Davis – bass
Roy Haynes – drums

After I had discovered him, some 10 years ago, I became a bit fan.
This is another brilliant album.

[bart]

Andrew Hill - Judgment!
via Qobuz




Another remarkable Hill album.
I think I even prefer it to 'Black Fire'.

Augmenting his rhythm section of bassist Richard Davis and drummer Elvin Jones with vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson, pianist Andrew Hill records an excellent set of subdued but adventurous post-bop with Judgment. Without any horns, the mood of the session is calmer than Black Fire, but Hill's compositions take more risks than before. Close listening reveals how he subverts hard bop structure and brings in rhythmic and harmonic elements from modal jazz and the avant-garde. The harmonic structure on each composition is quite complex, fluctuating between dissonant chords and nimble, melodic improvisations. Naturally, Hill's playing shines in this self-created context, but Hutcherson equals the pianist with his complex, provocative solos and unexpected melodic juxtapositions. Jones shifts the rhythms with style, and his solos are exceptionally musical, as is Davis' fluid bass. The combination of the band's intricate interplay and the stimulating compositions make Judgment another important release from Hill. It may require careful listening, but the results are worth it.

© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo

[bart]

Let's make it an Andrew Hill special!

Andrew Hill - Dance With Death
via Qobuz




Another terrific album of Hill.
Intelligent, adventurous, yet accessible.

Andrew Hill's Dance of Death, recorded in 1968 with a stellar band, was not issued until 1980. In the late 1960s, Blue Note was no longer the most adventurous of jazz labels. While certain titles managed to scrape through -- Eddie Gale's Ghetto Music did but only because Francis Wollf personally financed it -- many didn't. The label was firmly in the soul-jazz groove by then, and Hill's music, always on the edge, was deemed too outside for the label's roster. Musically, this is Hill at his most visionary. From hard- and post bop frames come modal and tonal inquiries of staggering complexity. Accompanied by trumpeter Charles Tolliver, saxophonist Joe Farrell, drummer Billy Higgins and bassist Victor Sproles, Hill engages, seemingly, all of his muses at once. Check out the sinister modal blues that is "Fish 'N' Rice" with its loping Eastern-tinged blues and loping horn lines around Hill's knotty fills in the head and choruses. In "Partitions" the steaming head is so rigorously tangled it's only the counterpoint of Hill's piano that makes an exit possible, with deep blues underpinnings and strident swinging soul. The title cut dances Afro-Cuban in the head, but Hill's piano is in a minor modal groove, with Higgins playing a textural, syncopated four-four as Sproles' punches on the two and four as the solos begin winding through the modes, bringing back the blues on tags. Dance of Death is a phenomenal record, one that wears its adventure and authority well.

© Thom Jurek /TiVo

[joel_hifi]

Bart, good run! I've got some of those on vinyl, will give them a spin for sure

Originally Posted by bart

Let's make it an Andrew Hill special!

Andrew Hill - Dance With Death
via Qobuz




Another terrific album of Hill.
Intelligent, adventurous, yet accessible.

Andrew Hill's Dance of Death, recorded in 1968 with a stellar band, was not issued until 1980. In the late 1960s, Blue Note was no longer the most adventurous of jazz labels. While certain titles managed to scrape through -- Eddie Gale's Ghetto Music did but only because Francis Wollf personally financed it -- many didn't. The label was firmly in the soul-jazz groove by then, and Hill's music, always on the edge, was deemed too outside for the label's roster. Musically, this is Hill at his most visionary. From hard- and post bop frames come modal and tonal inquiries of staggering complexity. Accompanied by trumpeter Charles Tolliver, saxophonist Joe Farrell, drummer Billy Higgins and bassist Victor Sproles, Hill engages, seemingly, all of his muses at once. Check out the sinister modal blues that is "Fish 'N' Rice" with its loping Eastern-tinged blues and loping horn lines around Hill's knotty fills in the head and choruses. In "Partitions" the steaming head is so rigorously tangled it's only the counterpoint of Hill's piano that makes an exit possible, with deep blues underpinnings and strident swinging soul. The title cut dances Afro-Cuban in the head, but Hill's piano is in a minor modal groove, with Higgins playing a textural, syncopated four-four as Sproles' punches on the two and four as the solos begin winding through the modes, bringing back the blues on tags. Dance of Death is a phenomenal record, one that wears its adventure and authority well.

© Thom Jurek /TiVo

[joel_hifi]

Winton Kelly Trio & Wes Montgomery - Smokin' In Seattle: Live At The Penthouse

Another great Resonance Records release, recorded live in 1966, streaming via Qobuz

Wes Montgomery - Guitar
Winton Kelly - Piano
Ron McClure - Bass
Jimmy Cobb - Drums

[PAP]

Wes and Wynton Kelly the perfect combination

[Antonmb]

Originally Posted by joel_hifi

Winton Kelly Trio & Wes Montgomery - Smokin' In Seattle: Live At The Penthouse

Another great Resonance Records release, recorded live in 1966, streaming via Qobuz

Wes Montgomery - Guitar
Winton Kelly - Piano
Ron McClure - Bass
Jimmy Cobb - Drums

You've probably read the liner notes, but the Penthouse was, for a few years, a Seattle jazz Mecca. The great Seattle jazz radio host Jim Wilke made many live broadcasts and recordings there for King Radio, including this one. Although now well into his 80s, Jim can still be heard via podcast and on our local jazz station KNKX.

[joel_hifi]

Originally Posted by PAP

Wes and Wynton Kelly the perfect combination

PAP, agree with that! Please don't hesitate to share with us what you are listening to

[joel_hifi]

Originally Posted by Antonmb

You've probably read the liner notes, but the Penthouse was, for a few years, a Seattle jazz Mecca. The great Seattle jazz radio host Jim Wilke made many live broadcasts and recordings there for King Radio, including this one. Although now well into his 80s, Jim can still be heard via podcast and on our local jazz station KNKX.

Tony, thank you for mentioning Jim Wilke, I will definitely check his podcast and radio hosting

Btw I'm not sure if we share the same notes on Qobuz, the ones I see for that album are by Jean-Pierre Jackson of Classica, the French classical and jazz magazine, how about from your end?

[Antonmb]

Originally Posted by joel_hifi

Tony, thank you for mentioning Jim Wilke, I will definitely check his podcast and radio hosting

Btw I'm not sure if we share the same notes on Qobuz, the ones I see for that album are by Jean-Pierre Jackson of Classica, the French classical and jazz magazine, how about from your end?

Sorry Joel, I was referring to the vinyl liner notes.