Personnel: Bobby Hutcherson (vibraphone, marimba); James Spaulding (alto saxophone, flute); Freddie Hubbard (trumpet); Herbie Hancock (piano); Ron Carter (acoustic bass); Joe Chambers (drums).
Producer: Alfred Lion.
Reissue producer: Michael Cuscuna.
Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on June 14, 1965. Includes liner notes by Nat Hentoff.
This is part of Blue Note's Limited Edition Connoisseur series.
Bobby Hutcherson's COMPONENTS is essentially two distinctly separate discs in one. The first half of the session is a very traditional hardbop date that showcases Hutcherson's inventive compositions with masterful solos from he and his men. The second half is made up of four compositions from frequent Hutcherson sideman, drummer Joe Chambers. These pieces are full-fledged avant-garde works featuring dramatic group improvisation and grand swathes of color and texture. In all, these two juxtaposed styles offer the listener a highly enjoyable aural experience.
Chambers is featured prominently on the punchy title track and starts the first half of the session with a bang. The graceful ballad "Tranquility" follows with a deeply passionate solo from Hutcherson and delicate work from pianist Herbie Hancock. The familiar Hutcherson composition, "Little B's Poem," is also included and is given a spirited reading here. After the bluesy "West 22nd Street Theme," the second half begins with Chambers' mysterious "Movement," a swirling epic featuring orchestral percussion and colorful work by James Spaulding on flute. "Juba Dance" and "Air" also feature colorful dissonance and creative free improvisation by all. The final "Pastoral," however, is a beautiful vibraphone feature that lives up to its bucolic title.
Professional Reviews
JazzTimes (12/94, pp.117-118) - "...a mix of bopping blowing and appealing melodies that eased...into [Joe] Chambers' more adventurous terrain....a vivid statement from [Hutcherson's] maverick years..."
