Bobby Hutcherson

Born: January 27, 1941

NEA jazz master Bobby Hutcherson is the most accomplished vibraphonist of his generation. He is a master of melodic, harmonic and rhythmic improvisation on both the vibes and the marimba. He has performed or recorded with nearly every major living jazz musician.

Born in Los Angeles in 1941, and raised in Pasadena, Hutcherson took a few piano lessons at an early age. But, he says, "I only played piano for my own enjoyment." Returned to the vibes after hearing the music of Milt Jackson. "One day I was walking down the street and I heard one of his records and that started it I have never tried to directly copy his style, but he's been a great influence on me…” He briefly studied the vibes with Dave Pike.

Exploration (Don Friedman Quartet), Classic Jazz from Miles Davis, Dinah Washington, Freddie Hubbard, Recent Jazz from Tina May, Dave Douglas, Michael Mayo, Birthday Music from Ike Quebec, Malachi Thompson, Vital Information, and more

by David W. Daniels
August 26, 2025

The program will feature classic jazz, current jazz that is in the tradition of classic jazz, jazz fusion, and music by local artists covering all forms of jazz. We do this in three segments, each an hour long: 1: Classic jazz; 2: Recent jazz that is in the tradition; and 3: Jazz musicians who had birthdays ...

Mike Freeman's ZonaVibe: Circles In A Yellow Room

by Jack Bowers
August 9, 2025

Circles in a Yellow Room, New York-based vibraphonist Mike Freeman's eighth recording as leader of his own ensembles, has a Latin flavor reminiscent of classic albums by West Coast maestro Cal Tjader. Stylistically, Freeman parallels Tjader and a host of others from Milt Jackson, Terry Gibbs and Gary McFarland to Bobby Hutcherson, Gary Burton, Joe Locke ...

Ornette Coleman's and Horace Silver's "Lonely Woman" �� A Disambiguation

by Artur Moral
July 27, 2025

Reality is filled with confusion and misunderstandings; some are suggestive or creative, while others are disappointing or, worse, malicious. The jazz world is no stranger to the first type: specific compositions are often confused or misidentified as if they were the same. Usually, this happens because of similar melodies or titles that are sometimes identical. This ...

Sly Stone, Tessa Souter, Cedar Walton

by David Brown
June 26, 2025

This week we remember progressive soul and funk pioneer Sly Stone of Sly and the Family Stone with two interpretations of his classic tunes: “Family Affair" from Bobby Hutcherson and “If You Want Me to Stay" from David Murray. Songs featuring some wonderful “oohs" and “aahs" in the background will be follow from Nina Simone and ...

Al Foster: Monk��s Bossa

by Carl Medsker
June 3, 2025

On May 28, 2025, Aloysius Tyrone Foster passed away at the age of 82. He brought strong, imaginative, percussive grooves and swing to bebop, post-bop, modal, funk and fusion for over 60 years--even a little calypso and bossa. A very partial list of the musicians Al Foster performed with includes Dexter Gordon, McCoy Tyner, Sonny Rollins, ...

The Sun Rises Again on Strata-East Records

by Joshua Weiner
May 2, 2025

Fans of classic post-bop, avant-garde, and spiritual jazz rejoiced at the news of Mack Avenue Music Group's partnership with Strata-East Records, a pioneering independent label founded in 1971 by trumpeter Charles Tolliver and pianist Stanley Cowell. Many Strata-East releases are being reissued on CDs, deluxe all-analogue vinyl LP packages, and digitally through streaming services, many for ...

Altin Sencalar: Unleashed

by C. Andrew Hovan
April 19, 2025

Often overshadowed by other solo instruments, the trombone boasts a rich history in jazz--one so vast it could fill volumes. New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz, also gave rise to Kid Ory, a pioneer of the “tailgate" style of trombone playing. In the early 1900s, bandleaders often promoted their shows by parading through town on horse-drawn ...

Brent Laidler: Hidden Gems

by Jack Bowers
March 6, 2025

The Hidden Gems alluded to by guitarist Brent Laidler on his third recording as leader comprise unique and seductive melodies and chord changes he uncovered while taking time during the Covid pandemic to skim through and sight-read some 14,000 tunes in 'fake books' and on his laptop computer, most of which never made it past that ...

Jutta Hipp, George Michael, Grammy Nods

by David Brown
February 11, 2025

We'll kick things off with some Latin energy from Mongo Santamaria and his Orchestra, recorded live at the Black Hawk in San Francisco in 1962. Next, we'll hear The Incredible Jimmy Smith with “Midnight Special" from his classic 1966 LP of the same name. Following that, we have some guitar music from alto saxophonist Tim Berne's ...