ANDREW HILL Vinyl & CDs

Review: Andrew Hill's debut album first came to the jazz giant Blue Note Records in 1963, but it wasn't until almost two decades later in 1980 when the titanic 'Dance With Death' laid down the pianist's existential side. A six-track meander through melodic post-bop, high-note ivory-tinkings, and an unmistakable focus on swing as its rhythmic base, this is almost certainly an unforgettable brush with the other side. Hill's piano is muted yet stark, providing a neatly blue counterpoint to the stereoized and doubled-up trumpet parts played by Charles Tolliver and Joe Farrell.

Review: Iconic jazz label Blue Note continues with is carefully considered reissue program under the Tone Poet banner, which places lots of focus on audiophile quality pressings. This one focusses on Andrew Hill, who was often said to be one of the most distinctive pianists and composing talents in the game. This session was first recorded in 1963 yet for some reason remained unrelated until 2003, when it finally made it to CD. Now presented on vinyl it features a fine ensemble including Woody Shaw and Dizzy Reece on trumpet, Julian Priester on trombone, Joe Farrell on saxes, and more on bass, horns, drums and tuba. The results are hugely moving.