Siete Ocho

[.:.impossible]

I was listening to this again yesterday and I began to wonder how this opening track sounded back in 1964 when the album was originally issued. What an opener, all the way to that unexpected last note!

I've had a CD-r of this album since the Hill Mosaic went extinct, and recently bought the RVG. It had been a while since I listened to this album, but I have been listening a lot to Hutcherson's vibes, piano, bass, drums dates lately. This session just blows me away. Hill's compositions (and comping!) move Hutcherson's playing into another league, sounding at times a bit like Dickerson, who Hill recorded with just two years before. They are entirely different musicians to me, but Hutcherson is heard here bridging that gap.

I know Andrew Hill had been recorded for about ten years preceeding this album. The two leader dates on Blue Note immediately preceeding Judgement! (Black Fire and Smokestack) give the listener an idea of where Hill's compositions reside, and I think Judgement! fits very well into this established and unique mood that he is able to conjure.

Still, I think this date really stands out among Hill's catalog, and Hutcherson's as well. For those of you who've been buying Andrew Hill's album the day they came out since the 1960's, how did this composition sound to you?

[sidewinder]

For me, it's Elvin Jones' playing which stands out on 'Siete Ocho'. Starts off reasonably subdued (for him) but some amazing sonic fireworks kick in about a minute into the piece. Awesome !

[MartyJazz]

Love JUDGMENT and I also recommend picking up ANDREW!!!, another Hill date from '64 with Hutcherson but this time in a quintet setting with John Gilmore in the front line. "Duplicity", "Le Serpent Qui Danse", "Symmetry" - great stuff!

[Steve Gray]

To answer the original question, I purchased the first four Andrew Hill albums as they were issued in the sixties - Black Fire, Judgement, Point of Departure and Smokestack.

Andrew! and Compulsion were impossible to find in England at the time and I never did buy them on LP.

Although I loved all four of them (Smokestack somewhat less so), I have to say that Judgement was my personal favourite. I just loved the feel of the music and it was the first time I had heard Bobby Hutcherson, who was a revelation. Sieite Ocho is a great opening track but I was impressed with the whole album.

When I did eventually hear Andrew!, I was quite dissapointed. IMO It sounds like a retread of Judgement. I've still got time to get to appreciate it more though.

[.:.impossible]

For me, it's Elvin Jones' playing which stands out on 'Siete Ocho'. Starts off reasonably subdued (for him) but some amazing sonic fireworks kick in about a minute into the piece. Awesome !

I do agree with you there. He really picks up a head of steam about half-way through Hutch's solo, which leads into a drum break, followed by Hill's solo, where Hill really gives of a sense that he is pressed for time. I think this is a real stand-out track for all involved. This is yet another natural fit for Richard Davis' playing as well. The rubato feel of the music really brings it out of him.

[DrJ]

I love that whole damn JUDGEMENT! LP..."Siete Ocho" is one of the best tracks but for some reason I just keep coming back to "Reconciliation," that melody simply haunts me, I love that sort of mechanical yet very hip ascending scale bit that Hutcherson does during his "solo" section (really more collective improv), and talk about an Elvin Jones tour de force! That has to be THE beefiest brush work I've ever heard, there's guys who don't sound that forceful playing with the handle side of regular sticks!!!

[sidewinder]

Mention of 'Siete Ocho' always invariably reminds me of what must have been the hippest in flight entertainment jazz tape ever compiled by American Airlines (or was it United?) which featured this track and selections from a whole bunch of other Conns of the time. Best flight I ever had ! They also had great Eddie Jefferson on that tape..

Makes a change from the usual Yellowjackets/SpiroGyra muzak on those flights.

Edited December 19, 2005 by sidewinder

[montg]

Thanks for posting this...time to go back and listen more closely.

I love this album. I remember first hearing it on a WKCR tribute to Elvin Jones when he died and the music was really moving. Richard Davis sounds great on this too!

[.:.impossible]

I still wonder how this music sounded in context with its contemporaries at the time of original release. I approach a lot of my music this way. A lot has happened since then and it still sounds at the forefront to me.