Bobby Hutcherson

[freeform83]

I searched for the Hutcherson Mosaic and found no threads (except for one about people waiting for it to come out). Basically, I am looking for opinions -- as detailed as possible -- on the music itself:

--How does it compare to his 60s classics?

--Are there any free/avant-garde tracks?

--What percentage of the songs are painfully cheesy?

--What is your favorite of the tracks/albums included?

Edited July 2, 2007 by freeform83

[freeform83]

I also want to add that Head On is my favorite Hutcherson album, and one of my favorite albums of all time (almost a personal obsession). I have no Hutch after Live at Montreux (73), which is also quite good, probably 4 stars out of 5.

[sidewinder]

--How does it compare to his 60s classics?

A lot funkier and mellower - not so experimental. Electric piano from George Cables given prominence - advantageously so in my opinion. Bobby also plays a lot more on marimba I think than on his 60s classics.

--Are there any free/avant-garde tracks?

Don't recall any (I'm going from the vinyl here as I don't actually have the Select).

--What percentage of the songs are painfully cheesy?

Very low - in fact I wouldn't say any of it is painfully cheesy. Some of the albums (e.g. 'Waiting') have mellow, MOR-ish tracks but they are very tastefully done.

--What is your favorite of the tracks/albums included?

Like all of 'em - but have a particular fondness for 'Knucklebean', 'Cirrus' (some nice Woody Shaw) and the first side in particular of 'Waiting'. The 'Inner Glow' LP is real cool stuff too.

[Noj]

Worth it for Inner Glow alone.

[sidewinder]

Worth it for Inner Glow alone.

For sure ! Cost me a wee bit more than the $40-ish that Mosaic are asking for the set.

It's on my shopping list.

Edited July 2, 2007 by sidewinder

[Big Al]

Sidewinder nailed it on the head; I love this Select.

However, if you're on the fence about this, check out this episode of Night Lights, which spotlights this Select. It convinced me to buy the set!

[J.A.W.]

I've only listened to the Mosaic once, so I'm hardly qualified to post an opinion, but I'd rate it far below the Blue Note albums Hutcherson put out in the 1960s. My first impression was that it's not bad, but not great either.

Edited July 2, 2007 by J.A.W.

[sidewinder]

I also want to add that Head On is my favorite Hutcherson album, and one of my favorite albums of all time (almost a personal obsession).

That's interesting. Of all of Hutch's 70s Blue Notes that I have, that's the one I find least appealing (can't really comment on 'Natural Illusions' - the one that I don't have). Will dig the vinyl out and re-appraise it, I think.

[freeform83]

Where my Hutcherson fans at?

[Chuck Nessa]

Where my Hutcherson fans at?

Wishing he hadn't taken the "money" turn.

[freeform83]

The idea of Hutch "selling out" is really what has kept me from getting any of his music after the early 70s. But now that I've pretty much tapped all of his early material, there's really no where else to go but forward. I figure Cirrus can't be bad with Woody Shaw on it and a cover that looks like Head On. I will get the Mosaic at some point this summer and come back with my thoughts. In the meantime, I appreciate all of your opinions.

Edited July 3, 2007 by freeform83

[Guest donald petersen]

the greatest gift one human can give another is conception, the gift of love.

[kh1958]

Try some of his post-Blue Note albums. Solo Quartet on Contemporary, and Skyline or Color Schemes on Landmark.

Edited July 3, 2007 by kh1958

[Guest donald petersen]

kh3000, i do not think that is a good suggestion for mr. free-that batch of albums you recommend.

based on what i am gathering from his posts so far, i think he would find those albums a bit boring.

mr. free, a lot of people have an anti-70s thing. "head on" is definitely the most different and progressive date.

the rest of 'em i guess could sound same-ey after a bit but there are a lot of good tunes on them. nothing sounds commercial. just a bit more tight and glossy, perhaps. because it is the 70s. "natural illusions" is a bit lame, imo and is a bit different. so is "linger lane" i suppose. but that's why neither is on the mosaic. i like "linger lane" a lot, though fine...i guess it is a bit commercial. but not really.

"inner glow" is maybe my favorite just because the addition of trombone adds a new element to the sound.

and i like that hutcherson plays a lot of marimba on the whole batch.

people are writing a lot of these albums off unfairly.

[sidewinder]

'Linger Lane' is a good one. A bit more commercial in sound, perhaps, but the recording is nicely captured on location at Idlewilde.

Edited July 3, 2007 by sidewinder

[clifford_thornton]

But now that I've pretty much tapped all of his early material, there's really no where else to go but forward.

You could always stop!

[freeform83]

But now that I've pretty much tapped all of his early material, there's really no where else to go but forward.

You could always stop!

I'll take it under advisement but I'm a little too obsessive for that.

Edited July 3, 2007 by freeform83

[kh1958]

kh3000, i do not think that is a good suggestion for mr. free-that batch of albums you recommend.

based on what i am gathering from his posts so far, i think he would find those albums a bit boring.

mr. free, a lot of people have an anti-70s thing. "head on" is definitely the most different and progressive date.

the rest of 'em i guess could sound same-ey after a bit but there are a lot of good tunes on them. nothing sounds commercial. just a bit more tight and glossy, perhaps. because it is the 70s. "natural illusions" is a bit lame, imo and is a bit different. so is "linger lane" i suppose. but that's why neither is on the mosaic. i like "linger lane" a lot, though fine...i guess it is a bit commercial. but not really.

"inner glow" is maybe my favorite just because the addition of trombone adds a new element to the sound.

and i like that hutcherson plays a lot of marimba on the whole batch.

people are writing a lot of these albums off unfairly.

I don't know what Mr. Free likes, I'm recommending them because they are good records. It is true Hutcherson became more mainstream after the 1960s, but he remains a great player.

[Noj]

Another Booby which I enjoy is the live album In The Vanguard, which 32 Jazz reissued. It has a nice version of "Witchcraft."

[J.A.W.]

Another Booby which I enjoy is the live album In The Vanguard

Seconded.

[freeform83]

"inner glow" is maybe my favorite just because the addition of trombone adds a new element to the sound.

and i like that hutcherson plays a lot of marimba on the whole batch.

people are writing a lot of these albums off unfairly.

I love his marimba solos! I think his playing on that instrument changed somewhat from 1964-66 to the late 60s/early 70s. On tracks like "Memory" (from Tony Williams' Lifetime), "Dialogue," "Movement," "Air," and "The Omen," he is playing in a more restrained, detached style and the notes have more percussive, disconnected feel (sort of like the other side of the coin from the vibes), whereas by the time of "Pompeian" and "Many Thousands Gone," he is doing something faster and more flowing, but also darker and more aggressive. But still, he only switches to marimba on certain types of tracks, and it's interesting that he stays off the instrument for entire albums like Oblique.

And I wish I had named myself Mr. Free.

Edited July 3, 2007 by freeform83

[J.A.W.]

And I wish I had named myself Mr. Free.

Why not ask Jim to change your handle?

[kh1958]

Another Booby which I enjoy is the live album In The Vanguard

Seconded.

I saw him at the Vanguard a few years back--he had his vibes and marimba set up right next to each other and would switch back and forth between the two instruments--it sounded amazing.

[ghost of miles]

Sidewinder nailed it on the head; I love this Select.

However, if you're on the fence about this, check out this episode of Night Lights, which spotlights this Select. It convinced me to buy the set!

Thanks for the mention, Big Al--Freeform83, you might also want to check out some of MartyJazz's comments about the live early-1970s band in this thread.