Theme From “Blow Up” and Oleo – 1969
Bobby Hutcherson-Harold Land Quintet
Two fiery performances by a notable hard bop group
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Vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson and tenor-saxophonist Harold Land first teamed up on a 1967 album by Gerald Wilson.
They began co-leading a quintet in 1968 and over the next three years led or co-led ten albums before going their separate ways; they would later both be part of the Timeless All Stars in the 1980s.
Their music was always forward-looking and could be quite fiery as they stretched the boundaries of hard bop into freer playing.
This film clip features Hutcherson and Land at Norway’s Molde Jazz Festival in 1969 when their quintet also included pianist Stanley Cowell, bassist Reggie Johnson, and drummer Joe Chambers.
Hutcherson and Land perform lengthy and explorative versions of Herbie Hancock’s “Theme From ‘Blow Up’” (which includes an unaccompanied section for Hutcherson) and Sonny Rollins’ “Oleo.”
A classic performance by an underrated band.
-Scott Yanow
Herbie Hancock