Bobby Hutcherson RIP

[Leeway]

Always amazed at what an important and admirable discography Bobby produced. He was a key factor in the Blue Note sound in the 60s and 70s.  Only met him once but he was exceedingly nice. Sad to see him go. 

[JSngry]

He went home. Can't blame a man for going home if he's got one to go home to.

[Justin V]

I never saw him perform in person, but I've enjoyed his playing on recordings.  Surprisingly, out of the 7 dates of his I have (I'll soon be adding Wise One), only one is from his original Blue Note run (the wonderful Stick-Up!).  I'll have to rectify that.  Thank you for the music, Mr. Hutcherson, and rest in peace.

[Mark Stryker]

FWIW, I wrote a short this short requiem the other day:

Heartbroken over the death of vibraphonist and composer Bobby Hutcherson at age 75. He was one of my greatest heroes and one of the most profound figures to come of age in the '60s in jazz. He's safely in the canon but still underrated. His expansive sound encompassed so much -- adventure, wide-eyed wonder, pure beauty, endless possibilities, innovation anchored by tradition, and the kind of nuanced individual expression that could never be duplicated no matter how many legions he influenced.

Hutcherson was a thrilling and spontaneous improviser -- you NEVER knew what he was going to play -- and as much virtuoso technique and harmonic knowledge as he had, the emotional content of his music hit you first and hardest. He was a storyteller, who took you on a trip, brought you to a place of dreams -- and the occasional nightmare -- and then returned you home safely. He created as personal and complete a sound world as anyone ever has in jazz and you were a different and better person after spending time there -- more self-aware, more empathetic and more human.

 

Edited August 23, 2016 by Mark Stryker

[The Jazz Aficionado]

   

 

 

 

 

[Mark Stryker]

MIchael Weiss alerted me to a fantastic Hutcherson bootleg from the Jazz Workshop in Boston, apparently from 1974. The rhythm section is Cecil Bernard, Ray Drummond and Larry Hancock -- same cats as on the "Live at Montreux" recordings with Woody Shaw from 1973 that came out a little while back on CD. Bobby takes no prisoners on Chick's "Tones for Joan's Bones" with the tempo way upstairs for this tune.

 

Edited August 21, 2016 by Mark Stryker

[Guy Berger]

RIP Bobby - you were on a lot of amazing recordings.

[six string]

On August 19, 2016 at 2:19 PM, Justin V said:

I never saw him perform in person, but I've enjoyed his playing on recordings.  Surprisingly, out of the 7 dates of his I have (I'll soon be adding Wise One), only one is from his original Blue Note run (the wonderful Stick-Up!).  I'll have to rectify that.  Thank you for the music, Mr. Hutcherson, and rest in peace.

Interestingly I have listening to more of his later albums since his passing and not so much those early Blue Note albums, great as they are.

On August 19, 2016 at 2:41 PM, Mark Stryker said:

FWIW, I wrote a short this short requiem the other day:

Heartbroken over the death of vibraphonist and composer Bobby Hutcherson at age 75. He was one of my greatest heroes and one of the most profound figur...es to come of age in the '60s in jazz. He's safely in the canon but still underrated. His expansive sound encompassed so much -- adventure, wide-eyed wonder, pure beauty, endless possibilities, innovation anchored by tradition, and the kind of nuanced individual expression that could never be duplicated no matter how many legions he influenced.

Hutcherson was a thrilling and spontaneous improviser -- you NEVER knew what he was going to play -- and as much virtuoso technique and harmonic knowledge as he had, the emotional content of his music hit you first and hardest. He was a storyteller, who took you on a trip, brought you to a place of dreams -- and the occasional nightmare -- and then returned you home safely. He created as personal and complete a sound world as anyone ever has in jazz and you were a different and better person after spending time there -- more self-aware, more empathetic and more human.

 

 

Wonderful.

[Clunky]

Very sad news indeed. A real giant who left behind some legacy.!

[The Jazz Aficionado]

For those inquiring about services for Bobby Hutcherson...

Tuesday, August 30th

5:00pm Family Viewing at Our Lady of the Pillar in Half Moon Bay

5:30pm Public Viewing

7:00pm Rosary

 

Wednesday, August 31st

11:00am Mass at Our Lady of the Pillar

12:30pm Luncheon at Mezza Luna (Family and close friends only, please)

 

Contact Paige Hutcherson with questions.

email: paigejaffa22@gmail.com

call/text: 650-867-0819

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[HutchFan]

On 8/19/2016 at 5:41 PM, Mark Stryker said:

FWIW, I wrote a short this short requiem the other day:

Heartbroken over the death of vibraphonist and composer Bobby Hutcherson at age 75. He was one of my greatest heroes and one of the most profound figur...es to come of age in the '60s in jazz. He's safely in the canon but still underrated. His expansive sound encompassed so much -- adventure, wide-eyed wonder, pure beauty, endless possibilities, innovation anchored by tradition, and the kind of nuanced individual expression that could never be duplicated no matter how many legions he influenced.

Hutcherson was a thrilling and spontaneous improviser -- you NEVER knew what he was going to play -- and as much virtuoso technique and harmonic knowledge as he had, the emotional content of his music hit you first and hardest. He was a storyteller, who took you on a trip, brought you to a place of dreams -- and the occasional nightmare -- and then returned you home safely. He created as personal and complete a sound world as anyone ever has in jazz and you were a different and better person after spending time there -- more self-aware, more empathetic and more human.

 

Wonderful words and so true. Thank you for sharing, Mark.

Edited August 22, 2016 by HutchFan

[Utevsky]

This is a sad moment, but it gave me good reason to listen to a bunch of Bobby Hutcherson's recordings - only skimming the surface, really.  His was a long and varied career, with too many highlights to digest.  But I put together two hours of Hutcherson for my "Straight, No Chaser" program on KBCS this week.  The list is admittedly weighted in favor of his 1960s recordings, but I think you'll understand that.  If you're interested, you can hear it any time (until Sept. 5) in the audio archive at www.kbcs.fm under August 22.

(The complete playlist is posted in my radio show thread, at p. 13 -- see link below.)

 

[Mark Stryker]

Joe Chambers wrote a short piece about Bobby for New Music Box. One footnote:  Joe says he was part of a 1963 concert at the Brooklyn Academy of Music that was led by Eric Dolphy and that the band also included Hutcherson, Freddie Hubbard and Richard Davis. The concert was recorded, but Joe says the tapes appear to be lost, though a bunch of folks apparently are on the hunt. I'd like to add: Would somebody please find them? Thanks in advance.

http://www.newmusicbox.org/articles/california-sunshine-remembering-bobby-hutcherson-1941-2016/?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=newmusicbox&utm_content=California+Sunshine%3A+Remembering+Bobby+Hutcherson+

Edited August 24, 2016 by Mark Stryker

[soulpope]

On 21.8.2016 at 0:04 AM, Mark Stryker said:

MIchael Weiss alerted me to a fantastic Hutcherson bootleg from the Jazz Workshop in Boston, apparently from 1974. The rhythm section is Cecil Bernard, Ray Drummond and Larry Hancock -- same cats as on the "Live at Montreux" recordings with Woody Shaw from 1973 that came out a little while back on CD. Bobby takes no prisoners on Chick's "Tones for Joan's Bones" with the tempo way upstairs for this tune.

 

!

[Kevin Bresnahan]

I'll never forget the concert I caught at the Aaron Davis Hall in June of 2000. The Times reviewer panned it a bit, but other than the corny rendition of the Star Spangled Banner, I thought it was incredible. The lineup? Bobby, Jackie McLean, Andrew Hill, Scott Colley & Billy Higgins!

Edited August 24, 2016 by Kevin Bresnahan

[BFrank]

Very impressive lineup for the Bobby Hutcherson Memorial Concert at SFJAZZ next month. Should be a very emotional night. Yes, I picked up tickets!

Bobby Hutcherson Memorial Benefit Concert

[six string]

That's an amazing list of performers.  Joe Gilman, the pianist listed in his West Coast band is a local player I've been following for thirty years.  He may have been the first jazz pianist I heard when I moved to Sacramento back in the 1980s.  He's really a wonderful player and his style meshed well with Hutcherson's.  

Edited September 17, 2016 by six string

[soulpope]

1 hour ago, six string said:

That's an amazing list of performers.  Joe Gilman, the pianist listed in his West Coast band is a local player I've been following for thirty years.  He may have been the first jazz pianist I heard when I moved to Sacramento back in the 1980s.  He's really a wonderful player and his style meshed well with Hutcherson's.  

Has an excellent album on his own titled "Americanvas" ....

[Justin V]

I received a promo code for 50% off any album on Google Play, so I paid $9.44 after tax for a download of Hutcherson's Mosaic Select material two days ago.  I'm going to take my time going through it and have listened to Cirrus several times now.  I wish that I had picked up this set years ago.

 

[sidewinder]

Been listening to 'Knucklebean' on vinyl this afternoon, which is also on the aforementioned Mosaic Select. Very enjoyable and with a great picture of a cheerful Bobby H. with the coast behind him on the back sleeve.

Of all of the Mosaic Selects, I'm sure I play the Hutcherson and the Grachan the most.

Edited September 17, 2016 by sidewinder

[six string]

On September 17, 2016 at 7:52 AM, soulpope said:

Has an excellent album on his own titled "Americanvas" ....

Have you heard his two cds of Brubeck tunes?  He recorded them with two students at the Brubeck Institute which Joe has taught at (not sure of his association now) and it's a great reimagination of Brubeck's songs.  I haven't heard Americanvas yet as a whole but I think I've heard some songs performed live.  He's a local treasure.  I'm so glad he decided to work in the field of music instead of law.  Not everyone can play the piano like Joe.  

 

Did anyone go to the memorial service?  I had considered it but since I never met the man it would have felt a little weird.

Edited September 22, 2016 by six string

[soulpope]

6 hours ago, six string said:

Have you heard his two cds of Brubeck tunes?  He recorded them with two students at the Brubeck Institute which Joe has taught at (not sure of his association now) and it's a great reimagination of Brubeck's songs.  I haven't heard Americanvas yet as a whole but I think I've heard some songs performed live.  He's a local treasure.  I'm so glad he decided to work in the field of music instead of law.  Not everyone can play the piano like Joe.  

Only heard "Americanvas" .... thnx for the hint ....

[BFrank]

On 9/22/2016 at 8:00 PM, six string said:

Have you heard his two cds of Brubeck tunes?  He recorded them with two students at the Brubeck Institute which Joe has taught at (not sure of his association now) and it's a great reimagination of Brubeck's songs.  I haven't heard Americanvas yet as a whole but I think I've heard some songs performed live.  He's a local treasure.  I'm so glad he decided to work in the field of music instead of law.  Not everyone can play the piano like Joe.  

 

Did anyone go to the memorial service?  I had considered it but since I never met the man it would have felt a little weird.

Didn't go to the service, but have tickets for the upcoming concert.

[six string]

On September 24, 2016 at 8:35 PM, BFrank said:

Didn't go to the service, but have tickets for the upcoming concert.

I'm scheduled to work that day so I'm going to get the tme off and hopefully procure tickets.  It should be a good one.

[BFrank]

On 9/26/2016 at 7:22 PM, six string said:

I'm scheduled to work that day so I'm going to get the tme off and hopefully procure tickets.  It should be a good one.

It will definitely be interesting and emotional.