BOBBY HUTCHERSON - WISE ONE

Easily one of jazz's greatest vibraphonists, Bobby Hutcherson epitomized his instrument in relation to the era in which he came of age the way Lionel Hampton did with swing or Milt Jackson with bop. He isn't as well-known as those two forebears, perhaps because he started out in less-accessible territory when he emerged in the '60s playing cerebral, challenging modern jazz that often bordered on avant-garde. Along with Gary Burton, the other seminal vibraphone talent of the '60s, Hutcherson helped modernize his instrument by redefining what could be done with it — sonically, technically, melodically, and emotionally. In the process, he became one of the defining (if underappreciated) voices in the so-called "new thing" portion of Blue Note's glorious '60s roster. Hutcherson gradually moved into a more mainstream, modal post-bop style that, if not as adventurous as his early work, still maintained his reputation as one of the most advanced masters of his instrument. Bobby Hutcherson’s new release, Wise One, is a prime example of slow-building and soulful vibes from Hutcherson - working here in set of tracks with a heavy influence from John Coltrane, including some key classics from the Coltrane songbook, plus a few standards that have had famous readings by The Great One! Hutcherson's vibes ring out with a sense of majesty that we don't remember before – carried along by some great work from the rest of the group -- Anthony Wilson on guitar, Joe Gilman on piano, Glenn Richman on bass, and Eddie Marshall on drums – players who hit a sweet modal groove on some of the best numbers, with a quality that almost takes us back to some of our favorite Hutcherson moments of the 70s. Titles include "Wise One", "Like Sonny", "Equinox", "Spiritual", "Dear Lord", "All Or Nothing At All", "Nancy", and "Aisha".