Sunday, August 26, 2018

Bobby Hutcherson: Smokin' at Montreux


Bobby Hutcherson and Woody Shaw aren’t obscure artists, but Bobby Hutcherson Live at Montreux is another story. Recorded in 1973 during Blue Note’s UA period, it was released on LP in 1974, but only in Europe. A CD version, with one additional track, was issued in 1994 and almost immediately relegated to the cutout bins, at least according to the comments over at Organissimo. A new Japanese CD reissue has finally made this excellent recording available.

My advice: pick this one up ASAP. Hutcherson is extraordinary, throughout, as is Woody. Cecil Bernard (later known as Hotep Idris Galeta) on piano gets some solo space, especially on Hutcherson’s Song of Songs, but he, Ray Drummond on bass, and Larry Hancock on drums mainly provide support to the main protagonists. High points include Woody’s The Moontrane and Hutcherson’s Song of Songs, but their work on all four tracks is smoking hot. It’s the best CD I’ve listened to in quite a while, so grab it while you have the chance.

Here’s The Moontrane.



Thursday, August 16, 2018

Farewell to Aretha

Aretha Franklin transcended categories. She could do soul, R & B, gospel, jazz, and opera, but it all came out Aretha. Take, for example, her lightning fast take on the vocalese classic Moody's Mood for Love, which segues into a vintage Queen of Soul interlude before a big finish, including a shout out to Freddie Hubbard and James Moody. "I'm through." Rest easy, Aretha.

 Aretha Franklin, Moody's Mood for Love: