Bobby Hutcherson is one of the three or four greatest vibraharpists in the history of jazz,
many of whom remained active, touring worldwide and playing beautifully to the end (though the world mourns the
passing of Milt Jackson in 1999 and Lionel Hampton more recently).
A pioneer who took his place alongside such greats of the 1960s as Eric Dolphy,
Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, and Freddie Hubbard, Hutch was extensively
recorded on Blue Note during the '60s and early '70s. In '94 he teamed up with long-time
fellow spirit McCoy Tyner for a CD and duo tour of the US and Canada. Hutch is
known as a master of melody, polyrhythmic swing, and instrumental timbre. His playing is
suffused with searing emotion, as this shot shows; but also bespeaks humor and profound musicality.
A recent gig at Seattle's Jazz Alley,
pairing Hutch with the McCoy Tyner Trio, proved that our man's genius has
only flourished more fully with the passage of time. McCoy's and Hutch's musical exchanges
melded and flowed together for almost three hours, to the delight of a packed house.
Our photo shows Hutch -- an L.A. resident -- in a rare East Coast appearance at the
University of Massachusetts/Amherst. On stage with him were the late Woody Shaw and
trombonist Steve Turre, in this 1983 concert set up by the late Max Roach and Fred
Tillis, who co-chaired the University's outstanding jazz program.