Black Fire

Andrew Hill - Black Fire

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CD Details

Artist: Andrew Hill
Edition: Music CD
Format: Extra tracks, Original recording remastered
CD Release Date: 2004-07-13
Music Label: Blue Note Records
Soundtracks:

Pumpkin
Subterfuge
Black Fire
Cantarnos
Tired Trade
McNeil Island
Land Of Nod
Pumpkin (Alternate Take)
Black Fire (Alternate Take)

Music reviews of Black Fire

Music Review: A powerful debut
Rating: 5 Stars

Andrew Hill's leader debut for Blue Note is one of his best recordings. The story is that Hill played piano on Joe Henderson's excellent album Our Thing and was then approached by producer Alfred Lion to make an album of his own music. Hill rose to the challenge, bringing seven strikingly original compositions that didn't fit into either the "free jazz" or "hard bop" categories.

It wasn't unusual in the mid-60s for Blue Note albums to include original compositions, but sometimes these compositions were pretty generic: a modal number, a "Sidewinder" clone, a blues number, etc. But not here -- each of Hill's tunes is distinct from those generic categories, and from the other tunes on the album. Hill's tunes include weird twists and turns, starts and stops, alternating sections with clashing ideas or moods, unpredictable rhythms, and of course a touch of Monk. "Subterfuge" is a percussive, claustrophobic piano trio performance. "McNeil Island" is another trio performance, but this time Roy Haynes sits out. Joe Henderson plays very lyrically on this one. "Black Fire" is a waltz, alternating an upbeat theme with a darker one. It's interesting to see how the soloists adjust to the frequently adjusting moods in their solos. "Pumpkin" (introduced by a striking Richard Davis bassline) and the sorta-Latin "Cantarnos" both feature intense, passionate melodies.

Hill got a major assist from his quartet: Henderson (tenor sax), Davis (bass) and Haynes (drums). Hill had great chemistry with all three guys, and each would appear on at least one Hill recording after this one. Henderson's playing is more avant-garde than on contemporary albums such as Lee Morgan's Sidewinder and Grant Green's Idle Moment. Haynes could perform brilliantly in any context, while Davis's virtuosic bass playing is perfect for Hill's music. (I guess that's why he played on Hill's first seven albums for BN!) Together, Haynes and Davis push and pull against the soloists, giving Hill's music the flexibility it needs.

Though Point of Departure might be a better album, Black Fire is probably a more accessible introduction to Hill's music. Be sure to check out his other Blue Note albums, including Judgment, Andrew!!! and Passing Ships.

(Note: this review is based on an older reissue of the album. I have not heard the recent RVG remaster.)

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