Andrew Hill's second leader date for Blue Note, recorded December 13, 1963 at Van Gelder Studio — sandwiched between the Black Fire sessions in November and the run of dates that would produce Judgment! and Point of Departure in early 1964. Alfred Lion didn't release it until August 1966, almost three years after it was cut. All seven compositions are Hill's.
The unusual move on this record is the rhythm section: two acoustic basses playing simultaneously throughout. Richard Davis (the bassist on most of Hill's mid-'60s Blue Notes) is joined by Eddie Khan, with Roy Haynes on drums. The two basses don't trade the role — they both play, weaving counter-lines around each other while Hill works the harmony from the piano.
Cool stuff:
- Two upright basses, played simultaneously. Richard Davis and Eddie Khan both bowing and walking together throughout the record — a setup almost no other Blue Note date attempted
- Sat unreleased for nearly three years. Recorded December 1963, didn't come out until August 1966
- Recorded between Hill's two most famous albums — five weeks after Black Fire and three months before Point of Departure
- Roy Haynes back on drums, continuing the partnership that began on Black Fire
- Reissued in the Blue Note Classic Vinyl Series, all-analog mastering from the original tapes
Spin it for: the unusual two-bass texture, Hill writing at the peak of his Blue Note run, and one of the lesser-known gems from his 1963-64 explosion.
Standouts: "The Day After" · "Wailing Wall" · "Smoke Stack" · "Verne"
Sources: Wikipedia · Blue Note Records · All About Jazz · Derek's Music Blog