HOT ! A Little Discovery｜Bobby Hutcherson: Montara (Tone Poet 180g) Vinyl LP｜ Other Products

Seasoned vibraphone man Bobby Hutcherson’s Montara is perfectly in line with the 70s Blue Note jazz-funk pedigree, with a spoonful of uptown latin jazz for added flavor. Relatively underutilized by samplers and diggers until Madlib’s Shades Of Blue contained a cover of the title track. The latin boys are mostly relegated to percussion here, and they contribute a dazzling layer of texture that sets this LP apart from other landmark jazz-funk sides from this period. The title track is the one to check for sure, with Bobby’s dextrous vibe twinkling front and center, propped up by some slow-mo percussion and extra deep electric piano chords courtesy of Larry Nash with Hutcherson and Dale Oehler on arrangement duties. “Love Song” and “Little Angel” are more deep slow burners, with moody chords and more of that drive-slow groove (these guys were def rinising “Why Can’t We Live Together”). There’s an objectively ‘meh’ cover of “Oye Como Va” tacked on to the very end to let you know Blue Note wasn’t exempt from the mainstream rock pandering going on in the 70s jazz scene. Heavy 180g wax, all-analog remaster, exquisite cover art too. Recommended.

180g black vinyl pressing
part of Blue Note's Tone Poet 180g audiophile remaster series

all-analog remaster cut from the original tapes
tip-on sleeve
original release year: 1975
music label: Blue Note 2025

reviewed by nick nightingale 10/2019
Brand:Bobby HutchersonCategory:_music-FUNKSKU:fr-5362Tags:Blue Note Records, Jazz Vinyl, recommendedtype:Vinyl LP