Andrew Hill (1931-2007)

The greats of jazz have been dropping at an alarming rate this year.  I only mentioned him in passing last week (re Nels Cline’s tribute album from last year) but have been saddened today to hear about the passing of the extremely influential pianist Andrew Hill over the weekend. 

His run of fine albums for Blue Note in the 1960s, while not elevating Hill to the position of a Monk or a Tyner at the time, have belatedly come to be recognised as out and out classics: Point of Departure garners most of the plaudits, but Andrew!!! and Black Fire remain personal favourites, as does Compulsion! (see Destination Out for more on that release), as does the Bobby Hutcherson / Hill date Dialogues, and even the lesser-known Lift Every Voice’s kooky choral jazz has some stellar moments - try “Hey Hey” - and, well I could go on.  I read a typically impressive and impassioned personal tribute to Hill from Hank over at the redoubtable Dark Forces Swing Blind Punches recently, to which I humbly direct you for further reading and listening…this is a “Black Monday” indeed.  *Post-script - A few more words from Hank here*