BOBBY HUTCHERSON — Components (review)

BOBBY HUTCHERSON — Components album cover

Album · 1965 · Hard Bop

3.5/5 · 2011-09-22
Abraxas

I'm not really an expert when it comes to jazz vibraphonists, I know just a couple, but from the ones I know, Bobby Hutcherson definitely belongs to the more adventurous ones out there in jazz. Of course, this is mainly due that he played in the 60s era, where free jazz and post bop were the norm (alongside other more commercial jazz settings), and he was a recurrent member on Andrew Hill’s edgy music.

The question now is, are his albums actually good? Cause, in the 60s, post-bop abounded, and some of it, despite great playing and ability, it wasn't all that worthy or original for that matter. But alas, Bobby did play noteworthy post-bop, and Components from 1965 is one I recommend(although for beginners I'd go for Happenings.

As any Blue Note player, you get the great advantage to be surrounded by incredible musicians (although that happens in jazz in general). It's the case of this album where Herbie Hancock finally gets the piano seat in Bobby’s band, previously having been Duke Pearson and Andrew Hill, evoking his complex and yet accessible playing displayed in Maiden Voyage. But Herbie is just one part of the big picture, there's James Spaulding playing flute or alto sax, an ex-Sun Ra player, so you can expect quality and originality from him. Then there's a typically great rhythm section, Ron Carter and Joe Chambers, the latter being as well a central composer in this album. And as last ingredient we have Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, augmenting Spaulding's sax, just like he did with Coleman on Maiden Voyage.

What is interesting of this record specifically, it’s like almost two different albums joined together, side 1 being Hutcherson's compositions, which are 60s hard bop tunes heading to the more sophisticated hard bop of the likes of contemporaries: Hancock, Joe Henderson, McLean. These are four well-played tunes, and different from each other, where I think the title track, a moving hard bopper, and ‘Tranquility’, a lovely gentle piece without any sax or flute, are the best.

Side 2, on the other hand, is Joe Chambers' package of tunes. Here we have full-blown avant-jazz music, not replete with atonality, but the "structured mess"(yes, a paradox) kind, cause you know it's actually composed, but then again you listen and it just seems notes and chords thrown in at random. Yet, there's 'Juba Dance', which is a rather Dolphy-esque tune, showcasing a rather odd drum rhythm for jazz, and what actually is going on is some carefully played ping-pong between vibes, marimba, piano and flute. The final track is not shabby either, entitled 'Pastoral', it's expectedly calm and with a very up-lifting mood, a pity that it's quite short.

So Components is not entirely consistent in style, but still most of it is really good jazz edging post-bop, with a pair of avant-jazz tracks for the more demanding jazz listener.

Yes, I recommend this, Hancock fans can easily check this, and of course, if you're a Bobby fan and don't have this, you're missing a mix of his really fun hard bop-ish tunes and a more wildish style of his.