Bobby Hutcherson (2)

BOBBY HUTCHERSON - HAPPENINGS (1966)

1. AQUARIAN MOON
2. BOUQUET
3. ROJO
4. MAIDEN VOYAGE
5. HEAD START
6. WHEN YOU ARE NEAR
7. THE OMEN

BOBBY HUTCHERSON vb
HERBIE HANCOCK, p
BOB CRANSHAW b
JOE CHAMBERS, ds
Recorded in Feb 1966

HAPPENINGS was vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson's fourth Blue Note release as a leader. Where its predecessors DIALOGUE and COMPONENTS were packed with challenging avant-bop, HAPPENINGS instead brings things down a notch. With pianist Herbie Hancock, drummer Joe Chambers, and bassist Bob Cranshaw on board, Hutcherson keeps the tone fairly light, performing his original compositions (the exception is Hancock's "Maiden Voyage") with a mellow, swinging style that emphasizes modal exploration. The performances are all top-notch, and the album still weighs in as one of the best in Hutcherson's fine catalogue.

BOBBY HUTCHERSON - SOLO QUARTET (1991)

1. Gotcha
2. For You, Mom And Dad
3. The Ice Cream Man
4. La Alhambra
5. Old Devil Moon
6. My Foolish Heart
7. Messina

On this excellent 1982 outing, renowned jazz vibes player Bobby Hutcherson offers up a set that is split between multi-tracked solo recordings and ensemble tunes featuring McCoy Tyner on piano and Billy Higgins on drums. Among the highlights of the album are the delicately chiming "For You, Mom and Dad" and the laid-back "Messina," both of which reinforce Hutcherson's status as an agile, top-tier vibes man.

Personnel: Bobby Hutcherson (vibraphone); McCoy Tyner (piano); Herbie Lewis (bass); Billy Higgins (drums).