Product Description

No Description Available.
Genre: Jazz Music
Media Format: Compact Disk
Rating:
Release Date: 12-SEP-2006

Track Listing

1. Aquarian Moon
2. Bouquet
3. Rojo
4. Maiden Voyage
5. Head Start
6. When You Are Near
7. Omen

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #52221 in Music
• Brand: HUTCHERSON,BOBBY
• Released on: 2006-09-12
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Dimensions: .23 pounds

Customer Reviews

One for the Ages
Even by the supremely high standards of Blue Note Records in the mid-1960s, vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson's HAPPENINGS was a rare event. This superb quartet session (with Herbie Hancock on piano, Bob Cranshaw on bass and Joe Chambers on drums) remains not only the pinnacle of Hutcherson's outstanding career but one of the absolute best of sixties jazz dates - no mean accomplishment on either hand.
With six originals by Hutcherson and the finest "cover" of Hancock's classic "Maiden Voyage" ever attempted, HAPPENINGS is a thoroughly modern set, but also a more mainstream one than many of Hutcherson's other recordings from the era. The brisk, edgy "Aquarian Moon" modulates flawlessly into the aching beauty of "Bouquet," both tracks making the most of the de facto chops duel between Hutcherson and Hancock which is the most crucial component of this date's success. The lack of horns allows a level of interplay between these two men - indeed, between all four men - which would be inconceivable with a larger front line. Few other jazz albums epitomize the ideal of a group of musicians thinking and playing as one quite as well as HAPPENINGS, and I mean that most seriously. From the rousing flash of "Rojo" through "Maiden Voyage"'s awe-inspiring maintenance of restrained power, the reflective yet dignified sentiment of "When You Are Near" to the inspired silliness of "Omen" (the sole avant-garde number here), everything works, connects, complements and convinces. This is a statement of musical purpose as fully realized as any you're likely to hear, and a singularly bright feather in the cap of everyone involved.
Sadly, HAPPENINGS is also one of far too many classic albums which Blue Note has been unforgivably late in reissuing Stateside. The 24-bit Rudy Van Gelder remaster of this date has existed since at least 1998, when it was released in Japan, but is only now seeing the light of day in the home of jazz (and Bobby Hutcherson). I can't imagine why this is so; but at least HAPPENINGS is happening once again, and that's something all fans of good music should be truly glad to hear.

This is Happenin' Baby!
Love this record. Great to see it finally re-issued. And hey I for one love the Reid Miles cover art. Like the music it's seductive with just the right touch of cheese. Question: wasn't "Blow Up" on this record once? I don't seem to see it here......

A great one. Right up there with Oblique and Dialogue. Not avant like those, but just a record with easy pleasures that you can listen to any time you like, and have fun listening, which is no small feat.

Masterpiece from An American National Treasure


There is not a dull note or wasted beat on this masterpiece from 1966. This is a direct replication of the original album. It swings from the first track AQUARIAN MOON and never lets up climaxing in one of my all-time favourite tracks THE OMEN, which is a nod towards free music. Six out of seven tracks are by the leader, and major jazz master Mr Hutcherson, and one by the renowned Mr Hancock - MAIDEN VOYAGE which rivals its twin on the album of the same name, one of the most famous single tracks in all modern jazz. Along with this track, there is a waltz BOUQUET with an amazing solo by Mr Hutcherson, a Spanish flavoured number, ROJO, a ballad WHEN YOU ARE NEAR, which provide a beautifully balanced programme of music. After many, many listenings over 30 years I am still touched by the feeling and inventiveness of this beautiful music. Compare it to THROB to see how lightweight THROB is (Mr Jarrett and Mr Burton). I believe BOUQUET and THE OMEN can sit quite comfortably alongside other masterpieces in the music, such as John Lewis' DJANGO, or Mr Hubbard's RED CLAY. It's one of my "can't live without this music" discs. It's also got one of the sexiest and best designed covers ever by Reid Miles.