Personnel: Bobby Hutcherson (vibraphone, marimba); Herbie Hancock (piano); Bob Cranshaw (bass); Joe Chambers (drums).
Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on February 8, 1966.
HAPPENINGS was vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson's fourth Blue Note release as a leader. Where its predecessors DIALOGUE and COMPONENTS were packed with challenging avant-bop, HAPPENINGS instead brings things down a notch. With pianist Herbie Hancock, drummer Joe Chambers, and bassist Bob Cranshaw on board, Hutcherson keeps the tone fairly light, performing his original compositions (the exception is Hancock's "Maiden Voyage") with a mellow, swinging style that emphasizes modal exploration. The performances are all top-notch, and the album still weighs in as one of the best in Hutcherson's fine catalogue.
