Bobby Hutcherson, the vibraphone extraordinaire and credited for his great ability of being able to make this instrument work in a “free jazz” environment. He was always inventive and right there in the middle of the mid 60’s avant-garde moment. In this 1965 album “Dialogue” he is joined by Freddie Hubbard, Andrew Hill, Sam Rivers, Richard Davis (Double Bass) and Joe Chambers(Drums). A great collection of innovators making history as they record. Just another classic album that everyone should own and can be listened to here on Jazz Con Class Radio, enjoy!
About the album:
This is part of Blue Note Records “Rudy Van Gelder Editions” series. Vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson was among the most successful and appealing of the 1960s musicians who merged post-bop aesthetics with the experiments of free jazz. His 1965 album DIALOGUE is one of his best–melodic, adventurous, rigorously musical, and ever-searching. Hutcherson pushes the jazz envelope here while maintaining allegiance to structure and form. The insistent, Latin-tinged opener, “Catta,” is a case in point, a bold exploration…..Read More
Biography of Bobby Hutcherson:
Bobby Hutcherson (vibraphone, marimba) was born January 27, 1941 in Los Angeles, California.
He studied piano with his aunt as a child, but didn’t enjoy the formality of the training; still, he tinkered with it on his own, especially since his family was already connected to jazz: His brother was a high school friend of Dexter Gordon and his sister was a singer who later dated Eric Dolphy. Everything clicked for Hutcherson during his teen years when he heard a Milt Jackson record; he worked until he saved up enough money to buy his own set of vibes. He studied informally with vibist Dave Pike, but, for the most part, he is self-taught on the instrument. Hutcherson’s own musical career began when started playing local dances with his friend, bassist Herbie Lewis.
After high school, Hutcherson played with local jazz musicians Les McCann, Charles Lloyd, Paul Bley, Scott LaFaro, and Curtis Amy. (Hutcherson’s first full-length album as a sideman was with Amy and Frank Butler, titled Groovin’ Blue.) Later, after moving to San Francisco, Hutcherson joined an ensemble co-led by Al Grey and Billy Mitchell, and the band went on to record several albums in both of the leaders’ names. During this time, Hutcherson frequently played chords using a four-mallet technique (now more commonly associated with vibist Gary Burton) because there was no pianist in the group. However, since the end of the 1960′s, Hutcherson has only occasionally used this technique and has focused instead on more horn- like, linear playing…….Read More
