{"product_id":"andrew-hill-judgment-blue-note-classic-vinyl-series","title":"Andrew Hill – Judgment! (Blue Note Classic Vinyl Series)","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhen Blue Note founder Alfred Lion first heard Andrew Hill he knew he had discovered another pianist and composer as unique as Thelonious Monk and set about documenting Hill’s music with a fervor. Recorded in January 1964, \u003cem\u003eJudgment!\u003c\/em\u003e was the third classic album that Hill would record in a five-month period that also produced \u003cem\u003eBlack Fire\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eSmoke Stack\u003c\/em\u003e, and \u003cem\u003ePoint of Departure\u003c\/em\u003e. With a quartet of modern jazz visionaries featuring vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson, bassist Richard Davis, and drummer Elvin Jones, Hill presented a program of six beguiling original compositions including some of his most playful inventions — “Flea Flop, “Yokada Yokada,” and “Reconciliation” - along with the inquisitive ballad “Alfred.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition is stereo, all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal. — (via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/store.bluenote.com\/products\/andrew-hill-judgment-lp-blue-note-classic-vinyl-series?_pos=2\u0026amp;_sid=b6a300794\u0026amp;_ss=r\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eLabel\u003c\/a\u003e)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e—\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAugmenting his rhythm section of bassist Richard Davis and drummer Elvin Jones with vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson, pianist Andrew Hill records an excellent set of subdued but adventurous post-bop with \u003cem\u003eJudgment!\u003c\/em\u003e. Without any horns, the mood of the session is calmer than \u003cem\u003eBlack Fire\u003c\/em\u003e, but Hill's compositions take more risks than before. Close listening reveals how he subverts hard bop structure and brings in rhythmic and harmonic elements from modal jazz and the avant-garde. The harmonic structure on each composition is quite complex, fluctuating between dissonant chords and nimble, melodic improvisations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNaturally, Hill's playing shines in this self-created context, but Hutcherson equals the pianist with his complex, provocative solos and unexpected melodic juxtapositions. Jones shifts the rhythms with style, and his solos are exceptionally musical, as is Davis' fluid bass. The combination of the band's intricate interplay and the stimulating compositions make \u003cem\u003eJudgment\u003c\/em\u003e another important release from Hill. It may require careful listening, but the results are worth it. — (via Stephen Thomas Erlewine \/\/ \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.allmusic.com\/album\/judgment-mw0000112981\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eAllMusic\u003c\/a\u003e)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e—\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis second album by Hill is in some ways even more remarkable than his first (\u003cem\u003eBlack Fire\u003c\/em\u003e, Blue Note 4151). Because tenorist Joe Hender­son and drummer Roy Havnes are replaced by Bobby Hutcherson (vibes) and Elvin Jones, there is a more complete dedication to ‘the new thing’.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot that all connection with the post-bop movement has been severed: Hill is still a very melodic player, and can still sound (comparatively speaking) conventional. His work on Yokada for example, a blues in B-flat, brings to my mind McCoy Tyner’s early playing, with splattering, skittering single note lines and characteristic ascending phrases. From Hill’s point of view, this is perhaps the least success­ful track, but it would serve as a good intro­duction to those unfamiliar with his work, and who cannot face plunging straight in at the deep end.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCompositionally, Hill’s writing (he wrote all six tunes) is as interesting and varied as it was on his first album. Perhaps the most interesting track is \"Siete Ocho\" (which means 7\/8 time in Spanish) with its repeated vamp figure and unusual time signature. Alfred, dedi­cated to Blue Note’s Alfred Lion, has a gentle, lyrical quality which contrasts well with the turbulent playing on the other tracks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is not a record for casual listening. But if the listener cares to concentrate, he will find it a rewarding and worthwhile experience. — (via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/jazzjournal.co.uk\/2025\/01\/26\/jj-01-65-andrew-hill-judgement\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eJazz Journal\u003c\/a\u003e)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"100%\" height=\"352\" style=\"border-radius: 12px;\" data-testid=\"embed-iframe\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/album\/1UTKa9k864z70CFgpoJy1f?utm_source=generator\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVinyl Tracklist\u003cbr\u003eA1: Siete Ocho\u003cbr\u003eA2: Flea Flop\u003cbr\u003eA3: Yokada Yokada\u003cbr\u003eB1: Alfred\u003cbr\u003eB2: Judgment!\u003cbr\u003eB3: Reconciliation\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e↓\u003cbr\u003eLabel: Blue Note\u003cbr\u003eFormat: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo, 180g\u003cbr\u003eReissued: 2025 \/ Originally Released: 1964\u003cbr\u003eGenre: Jazz\u003cbr\u003eStyle: Post Bop\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFile under: Blue Note\u003cbr\u003e⦿\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Blue Note Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46388749992094,"sku":"602475079507","price":48.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0584\/5434\/3838\/files\/andrew-hill-judgment.jpg?v=1768027554","url":"https:\/\/theanalogvault.com\/products\/andrew-hill-judgment-blue-note-classic-vinyl-series","provider":"The Analog Vault","version":"1.0","type":"link"}