Bobby Hutcherson Quartet Plays "Little B's Poem":
I once mentioned the greatness of the jazz vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson on this site, and now there's a clip on YouTube that does Hutcherson justice: Hutcherson leading a terrific quartet playing his classic tune "Little B's Poem." I believe the performance was recorded in Japan at the 1989 Mount Fuji Jazz Festival.

  In this recording, Hutcherson is joined by three very familiar players that Miles Davis had first brought together in 1963: Herbie Hancock on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and the late-great Tony Williams on drums. Hutcherson had played with each of them many times before, including on a number of '60s era Blue Notes. The tune is one of Hutcherson's best known compositions; it was named after his son Barry ("Little B"). Hutcherson explains in the liner notes to his 1965 Components album that the melodic line reminded him of how Barry had played as a toddler.

  Here's the clip:
  Some listeners may find Hutcherson's playing to be too fast; at first it may sound like a blizzard of notes that are simply too densely packed to put together. I recommend listening a few more times; after a while your brain will catch up to Hutcherson's speed and you'll begin to see it. Of course, actual mileage may vary.
Ex parte McCardle:
I've never been a huge vibes fan, but that's a hot performance--great solos, so it's a disappointment that Tony W. doesn't get one on this tune.
10.18.2007 3:53pm
Hoosier:
(I suspect that I'm the only VC-regular who prefers Nirvana.)
10.18.2007 5:46pm
GV_:
/thread jack

Any chance we can hear your thoughts on the new, new day?
10.18.2007 5:47pm
TyrantLimaBean:
Mmm, that's right up there with jazz flute.
10.18.2007 6:20pm
Richard Gould-Saltman (mail):
What a rhythm section!
10.18.2007 6:46pm
Peter Margulies (mail):
Bobby is one of the most musical minds ever - I saw him recently with the SF Jazz Ensemble, stealing the show on a mid-tempo version of Herbie Hancock's bluesy "And What If I Don't?" (from Herbie's early "My Point of View" on Blue Note). Ron Carter sounded positively serpentine in his solo, and the coda made time stand still. Great stuff!
10.18.2007 8:25pm
The Cabbage:
I listened to too much Metallica in high school, so I'm of the opinion that nothing can ever be played "too fast".
10.18.2007 9:41pm
JunkYardLawDog (mail):
I was so distracted by the moaning groaning bass violin and general clunkiness of the entire arrangement behind the vibe playing, that I just couldn't enjoy the vibe playing. Who was the vibe guy that was so famous and got his start with the Benny Goodman band? I've got a mental block on his name.

Says the "Dog"
10.19.2007 12:36am
JunkYardLawDog (mail):
Was it Lionel Hmpton?

Says the "Dog"
10.19.2007 12:37am
BlackX (mail):
Anyone else reminded of the supposed Solieri quote in _Amadeus_?

Give me CT Meets Monk or give me death.

(As for the Metallica comment, check out Apocalyptica if you haven't already.)

_R_
10.19.2007 1:24am
Fabio Rojas (mail) (www):
Orrin, I'm a huge jazz vibes fan and if you haven't done so, you might enjoy some of Hutch's other fine recordings. His best, IMO, are probably:

Dialogue (considered one of the best jazz albums by many)
Patterns (wonderful compositions)
Color Schemes (perhaps the only outstanding jazz marimba recording other than Chick Corea's work on Wayner Shorter's Motto Grosso Feio)
10.19.2007 2:17am
OrinKerr:
Fabio,

I have all 40 or so of Hutch's albums as a leader, as well as another 50 or so with him as a sideman. The only things I don't have are 6 or 7 records on minor labels that are long out of print and hard to find on ebay. That list is getting smaller as more and more OOP LPs get a new run on CD, fortunately.

My own favorites are probably Happenings, In the Vanguard, and Live at Montreaux. But it's hard to choose.
10.19.2007 2:41am
snob (mail):
Beethoven is better. The 4th movement of the 7th symphony - now that's fast, but much more intellectually and emotionally satisfying.
Just sayin'.
10.19.2007 7:19am
JunkYardLawDog (mail):
Orin, do you have the album "For Musicians Only" with Getz and Gillespie and Stitt as the featured artists all playing together?

Bee Bop has always been my favorite jazz style.

Says the "Dog"
10.19.2007 1:26pm
Fabio Rojas (mail) (www):
Orrin - Your love for Hutch rivals my obsession with Miles Davis! Even most jazz heads I know don't do a lot of Hutch, though they admit he's probably one of the best vibes players ever in jazz, along with Milt Jackson. Compared with most folks, I am fairly hard core about Hutch - I've probably got about 7-10 albums by him - and I've never counted his appearances on other albums I own. But you take the cake!!

Follow up: Are you into other vibists? Or is your addiction Hutch specific? If so, who else to you dig other than Hutch and Milt Jackson?
10.19.2007 6:40pm
OrinKerr:
Fabio,

In terms of other players beyond Hutch (and obviously Bags, the best blues player ever), I think Stefon Harris is a wonderful player. His recent efforts haven't necessarily been successful, but maybe 3 years ago I spent a night at the Iridium (all three sets) watching Harris and Hutch together in a quintet. Harris blew Hutch away, although I think Hutch was just having a bad night. I also like Steve Nelson, although I don't follow him closely.
10.19.2007 8:51pm
Fabio Rojas (mail) (www):
Orrin: Thanks, I'll check out Steve Nelson. Here's an obscure touch back: Khan Jamal. Output is very uneven, but when he's on, he's great. Check out CIMP's Black Awareness and the Dark Warrior from Steeplechase.

Bonus round: what would you recommend are the best places to hear jazz in DC? I will be in town on the first weekend in Nov.

Fabio
10.20.2007 1:24pm
OrinKerr:
Fabio,

E-mail me at my law.gwu.edu address -- I would be happy to share my thoughts on that.
10.22.2007 4:33am