Bobby Hutcherson R.I.P.

Bobby Hutcherson "Total Eclipse"
“Total Eclipse”, 1968 Blue Note LP with Chick Corea, Harold Land, Reggie Johnson, and Joe Chambers.

I remember a concert at Cologne’s Subway club back in 1990 with an elegantly dressed Bobby Hutcherson who seemed to echo his taste in clothes with what he was playing. Over the years, I’ve been lucky enough to dwell in a lot more concerts by this master musician.

I first came across his music on a 1983 Timeless Records LP which was a standard album with George Cables, Herbie Lewis and Philly Joe Jones. His Landmark releases “Color Schemes” and “Cruisin’ The Bird” further enhanced my appreciation. But there was a lot more: when I started to check out his catalogue, I stumbled upon his vast Blue Note period where he actually started his career. And that’s when I became a big fan. His “Montara” (1975) belongs to my all-time favorite albums. Almost all of his Blue Note stuff (and there is a lot) is worth checking out.

It was only two years ago when he came out with his last recording, the brilliant “Enjoy The View” which had David Sanborn, Joey DeFrancesco and Billy Hart revisiting “Montara”, among six more astounding pieces. Bobby Hutcherson died on Monday at the age of 75. In Montara, close to San Francisco.

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