Buck Hill RIP

paul secor · March 20, 2017

http://dcist.com/2017/03/local_jazz_legend_buck_hill_dead_at.php

Cyril · March 20, 2017

Wasn't he a mailman?

Buck Hill played and recorded with Rein de Graaff in the Netherlands.

R.I.P.

Ted O'Reilly · March 20, 2017

There are some good Muse recordings by Hill, too. And he played very nicely on a recording with Shirley Horn, Close Enough For Love...

mjzee · March 20, 2017

R.I.P.

Chuck Nessa · March 20, 2017

He was a fine musician and man. His wife was always concerned that carrying that mail bag every day was damaging his health. She was always begging him to stop and on a couple of occasions asked me to help convince him. He had a long and productive life.

optatio · March 20, 2017

R.I.P.

Peter Friedman · March 20, 2017

I greatly enjoyed Buck Hill's recordings on Steeplechase and Muse.

R.I.P.

soulpope · March 20, 2017

R.I.P ....

Carl Baugher · March 20, 2017

RIP, Buck.

HutchFan · March 21, 2017

Sorry to hear this sad news.

R.I.P.

king ubu · March 21, 2017

I think he was one of the many more obscure musicians I found out early on thanks to JE Berendt ... fine player, I have at least half a dozen of his Steeplechase, Muse and more recent albums and have enjoyed each and every one I've heard, including his appearances with Shirley Horn.

JSngry · March 21, 2017

RIP

brownie · March 21, 2017

A great loss!

He was always providing interesting music!

Hardbopjazz · March 21, 2017

RIP Bill.

alankin · March 21, 2017

Very good tenor player. I believe he didn't make his first LP as a leader ("This Is Buck Hill" on SteepleChase Records) until he was over 50 in 1978. R.I.P.

Edited March 21, 2017 by alankin

Cyril · March 21, 2017

4 hours ago, alankin said:

Very good tenor player. I believe he didn't make his first LP as a leader ("This Is Buck Hill" on SteepleChase Records) until he was over 50 in 1978. R.I.P.

It's possible...... Like Scott Yanow said: "Buck Hill received some fame in the 1970s for being a mailman who also plays tenor. He actually began playing professionally in 1943, but always had a day job in Washington, D.C. He recorded with Charlie Byrd (1958-1959), but had to wait until the late '70s before getting his own dates. He went on to lead sessions for SteepleChase and Muse, displaying a large tone and a swinging style".

Justin V · March 24, 2017

It's a shame that he wasn't documented extensively throughout his career, because I would have loved to have heard how he developed into his mature style. At any rate, at least he had several opportunities to record later in his career, because his music was worthy of wider exposure beyond only those who heard him in the DC area. I wrote him several years ago inquiring about a couple of Leo Parker sidemen (and whether he could point me toward any of his own students, if he had any) but I never heard back; he must've had a wealth of tales from his long career. I'll be listening to some of his fine leader dates and checking out more in the future. Thank you for the music, Mr. Hill, and rest in peace.

Larry Kart · April 30, 2017

Think this album (see below), issued in 2006, may be his final recording. It is excellent, food for the soul, with Hill's sound captured beautifully. Interesting choice of material, in addition to Hill's own pieces (his "Sad Ones" is lovely) -- three associated with Miles: "Flamenco Sketches," "Pfrancing," and "Milestones" (not the later modal piece but the one Miles recorded with Bird on tenor in 1947).

P.S. "Milestones," according to many, is by John Lewis, not Miles. And, of course, "Pfrancing" actually is that old tune "Put Your Little Foot Right Out" (check out the version on YouTube by Russ Morgan). And "Flamenco Sketches" is, at the least, part Miles and part Bill Evans'.