The oddest of the Hutcherson-Land albums, at times driving mainstream post-bop, as expected, at times 70s jazz-funk fusion, perhaps the influence of Land's son? Personally I'd have preferred more subtlety and indeed suppleness from the drumming but overall there's much to enjoy here if, like me, your a devotee of these two.
1. Choma (Burn)
2. Our Home
3. Black Caucus
4. Up And Down
Harold Land (ts,fl) Bobby Hutcherson (vb, marimba) Bill Henderson, Harold Land, Jr. (p,el-p) Reggie Johnson (b) N'Dugu, Woody Theus(d)
1971
As I'm more inclined to share my love of this music with human beings, and not robots, email for link:
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This set finds the Hutcherson - Land team trying their hand at a more "out" setting than was their norm. Except for Henderson's Our Home (a country-ish melody of the kind Keith Jarrett was also essaying at around this time) the album has three fairly free post-bop burners. If the results are not entirely successful, I agree with Mr. Grumpy, the problem lies with the drummers. They are probably one too many, or too up-front in the recording mix, or too exuberant! Hutcherson seems more comfortable in the freer setting than Land - to my ears his solo on Up & Down is the high-point. At any rate, I think they deserve credit for trying a direction that was definitely NOT the way to success in 1971!
ReplyDeleteHow thankful for the great music, can I?
ReplyDeleteGreat for the spirits in spite of hard life.
Thank you so much and for the effort.
Nice One.....I remember another intriguing collaboration Land-Hutcherson...."The Peace-Maker".....
ReplyDeleteThanks for this gift Grumpy....
I agree, this isn't one of Hutcherson/Land combo's high points, but it's certainly not bad. The double drumming is a little over the top, and it's a pity Hutcherson focuses more on the marimba, which gets a little drowned out by the other percussion. But, to their credit, Hutch and Land always had a unique sound regardless of who else was in the band, and it comes through even on this one. I'm still waiting for Mosaic to issue a box set of the full Hutcherson/Land output! Thank you again for this, grumpy.
ReplyDeleteApologies for anonymous post. Further agreement with the above, however I find it a grower. Thanks and all.... Phil
ReplyDeleteAmazing stuff, grumpy, thanks for putting this out there, great music for when you're on a mission, love it!
ReplyDeleteLove the scans too!