Andrew Hill - Pax

[mke]

I happened to be strolling down the Champs Elysées yesterday and stumbled across the new Connoisseur re-issue of a 1965 session with Joe Henderson, Hubbard (on cornet), Richard Davis and Joe Chambers.

So far, I've only listened to the first track, an uptempo tune with an out-of-sync cornet/tenor arrangement on the head, and the lovely ballad "Erato," which is played in piano trio and tirelessly repeats a delicate motif. There's a magnificent arrangement of it by Ron Horton on Ben Allison's "Buzz."

I should also mention David Adler's very good piece on Hill from the April 2006 issue of Jazz Times.

[Uli]

Originally Posted by mke

I happened to be strolling down the Champs Elysées yesterday and stumbled across the new Connoisseur re-issue of a 1965 session with Joe Henderson, Hubbard (on cornet), Richard Davis and Joe Chambers.

Congrats, mwanji! Sounds great! I haven't even heard of that record (thanks) not to mention a chance in hell to just happen to be strolling down the Champs Elysee.

Keep us informed as you go on listening.

[hearsay]

That record is great, you forgot to mention that the band is Freddy Hubbard, Joe Henderson, Richard Davis and Joe Chambers. I don't think it was ever released on it's own, I used to have it as a two lp called "one for one", with some other unreleased HIll stuff. I can't wait to get it on CD.

btw- you might also recognize similarities to Erato with Jason Morans Gangsterism pieces.

[Uli]

Originally Posted by hearsay

you forgot to mention that the band is Freddy Hubbard, Joe Henderson, Richard Davis and Joe Chambers.

What are you smokin, hearsay? I even quoted him mentioning it.

[hearsay]

WOO, I just got up must've skimmed over that. D'oh. Anyway it's good.

[shrugs]

Originally Posted by Uli

Congrats, mwanji! Sounds great! I haven't even heard of that record (thanks) not to mention a chance in hell to just happen to be strolling down the Champs Elysee.

Keep us informed as you go on listening.

Uli, do you have the 70's 2fer of Hills called One For One?
This music was on that collection. W/the exception of Roots n Herbs and an alternate take of Euterpe.

[Uli]

Originally Posted by shrugs

Uli, do you have the 70's 2fer of Hills called One For One?.

No, this escpaed me. It sure sounds great. Killer group.

[relyles]

This music was also issued as part of the Mosaic box set.

[mke]

So far, can't say that this is the most essential Andrew Hill, even if Davis and Chambers are my favourite Hill rhythm section (along with Davis/Haynes. I prefer the jugglers over the colorists (Williams) and the swingers (Riley, Higgins)). The wait for "Compulsion" continues.

A commentor notes that the tracks originally had different names:

1. Heritage (Eris)
2. Image of Time (Pax)
3. Deception (Calliope)
4. Intuition (Euterpe)
5. Moon Chile (Erato)

[hearsay]

Not as essential as Black Fire, Smokestack and Point of Departure, but great playing. On the "One For ONe" version the very sloppy first track (of the Pax cd) was not even included and in my opinion made the album stronger. I don't know why they put that one first anyway.

Is Compulsion set for release? Probably my favorite, although much rawer and more intense than any other Hill.

[mke]

Originally Posted by hearsay

On the "One For ONe" version the very sloppy first track (of the Pax cd) was not even included and in my opinion made the album stronger. I don't know why they put that one first anyway.

Neither do I, especially as the sound quality is poor. You can hardly hear Henderson.

Is Compulsion set for release?

I don't know, but at the rate they're reissuing everything, it shouldn't be too long.

[mke]

[reposted, since it makes more sense here than on the thread it was originally on]

Originally Posted by Face of the Bass

After listening to the new connoisseur Pax, I'm also beginning to think that Blue Note seriously over-recorded Andrew Hill in the mid-1960s.

I think it's the other way around: what was released was usually the best of the bunch. "Pax" is a Connoisseur for good reason. However, there are a number of good Connoisseurs: "Andrew!!!" is as essential as "Black Fire" and "Point of Departure", "Dance With Death" is crisp and the best of his more straight-ahead albums ("Love Nocturne," of which there is an atrocious version on "Grassroots," is awesome) and "Passing Ships" is good too, some of the tunes remind me of Mulatu Astatke.

His albums are more interesting for who he gets to play on them, and less interesting for his own contributions.

Actually, I find that the more Hill's presence is felt, the better the music is. On "Point of Departure," my favourite Dolphy moment is, iirc, on "Spectrum," when he is corralled into a very specific role. "Andrew!!!" is a marvel of group balance (John Gilmore is kind of similar to Henderson (compare their tones on the first track of "Black Fire" and the second of "Andrew!!!"), but his less fancy playing has more oomph to it). And Hill totally dominates "Time Lines," which is as good as any of his other Blue Notes. Not just in his actual playing: everyone is subservient to his music. "Dusk" is similar in that respect, but "Time Lines" is more powerful.

[mke]

Those interested can download two tracks off Compulsion!!!!! here.

[bluenoter]

Thanks, Mwanji!

Although I haven't heard as many Hills as you have, I think you were right on in your replies to David (FOTB) (except that I'd characterize Passing Ships as being better than "good").

[Uli]

Originally Posted by bluenoter

Thanks, Mwanji!

Although I haven't heard as many Hills as you have, I think you were right on in your replies to David (FOTB) (except that I'd characterize Passing Ships as being better than "good").

Yeah, thanks. I've listening to the title track for the third time and Compulsion!!!!! cooks.

[jazzscot]

Is any of this music on the "new" ANDREW HILL Mosaic Select set?? due
for release very soon??

[jazzscot]

Opps!! disregard my last post , I was thinking of another release.

[mke]

Do you mean this:

The 2003 release of Andrew Hill's Passing Ships on Blue Note set off a torrent of requests for more unissued Hill material. After some discussions with the artist, we came up with a solution: clean out the closet in one fell swoop.

With the release of these sessions, recorded between 1967 and '70, every piece of music from Andrew Hill's Blue Note recordings has been issued. This outstanding, unique pianist-composer is heard in a variety of contexts, and only six of the 31 selections on this set have ever been out in any form. Their common denominator is Andrew's brilliant improvisations and unique compositions.

The 1970 sextet with trumpeter Charles Tolliver and saxophonists Pat Patrick and Bennie Maupin features six challenging pieces played with drive and swing. Some of the best writing in the set comes from two 1969 dates that pair Hill's quartet (Maupin, Ron Carter and Mickey Roker or Carlos Garnett, Richard Davis and Freddie Waits) with a fully integrated string quartet. Three tunes from each of these projects were previously issued, but now the entire sessions have been newly remixed from the original eight-track tapes for release.

A February 1967 session with saxophonists Robin Kenyatta and Sam Rivers features Hill's recorded debut at the organ on two selections, an instrument to which he returns for two pieces on his May 1967 trio date with Ron Carter and Teddy Robinson. From October 1967 comes a powerful septet date with Woody Shaw, Kenyatta, Rivers and Howard Johnson in the front line.

[jazzscot]

Yes that's the one, THANKS Mike.

[Felix]

Originally Posted by mke

"Andrew!!!" is as essential as "Black Fire" and "Point of Departure"

I totally agree.

[mke]

Originally Posted by mke

"Dance With Death" is crisp and the best of his more straight-ahead albums

This implies that I've heard all of Hill's albums, which is not the case.