| Jazz |
Here is an album that will captivate jazz musicians and historians alike, for it delves deeply into Andrew Hill’s extraordinary way of orchestrating large ensembles—a mastery unique to him and admired by all. This is a double CD that takes on the allure of a collector’s item, a reissue of the 2002 album with additional tracks and a bonus piece! Normally, I am not a fan of such practices. For me, an album should stand complete in its original form, and these marketing techniques are rarely a promising sign. However, in this case, the interest is genuine, as it offers deeper insight into the composer’s approach.
To set the scene, we are in the Blue Note Records era, during which Hill released ten albums between 1963 and 1970. *A Beautiful Day* marks the closing chapter of Andrew Hill’s career, yet here the composer seems to explore new avenues in his method of composition. The term “Revisited” simply denotes the remixing of the tracks in their entirety, providing a more dynamic version. Originally, sound engineer Matt Balitsaris worked on the album, but many years later, technology allowed for the cleaning and enhancement of the tracks, so much so that one almost forgets the analog nature of the original.
What stands out on this album are the arrangements, which, conceived with a broad vision, give splendid depth to the solo instruments and point toward a very contemporary form of jazz. Without a doubt, Andrew Hill would have approved of this technical evolution, which enables us to fully appreciate the many facets of his artistry.
Thus, we present to you a “coup de coeur” album, and we hope it will enchant you as well, even if you already own the original 2002 release.
Thierry De Clemensat
USA correspondent – Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor in chief Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
PARIS-MOVE, October 23rd 2024
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