Bobby Hutcherson – Total Eclipse: Blue Note Tone Poet Series (180g Vinyl LP)

All-Analog 180g Vinyl LP of Bobby Hutcherson’s Total Eclipse: Blue Note Tone Poet Reissue Mastered From the Original Master Tapes by Kevin Gray and Pressed at RTI

Vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson was a defining feature of the sound of Blue Note Records throughout the 1960s, equally at home in hard bop, soul jazz, and avant-garde settings. His 1968 album Total Eclipse was the vibraphonist’s first recording to feature tenor saxophonist and flutist Harold Land who would go on to become a key collaborator in the years to follow. Hutcherson and Land had been co-leading a band on the West Coast and came to New York City for engagements at Slugs’ Saloon and the Village Vanguard before heading into Plaza Sound Studio to record the album. Rounding out the band were pianist Chick Corea, bassist Reggie Johnson & Hutcherson’s go-to drummer Joe Chambers on this impassioned and probing set of post-bop. With the exception of Corea’s exceptional piece “Matrix,” the rest of the program consists of Hutcherson compositions including the assured and briskly swinging opener “Herzog” and the epic closer “Pompeian” which moves between a gentle, lilting waltz and more turbulent explorations.

The Tone Poet Audiophile Vinyl Reissue Series was born out of Blue Note President Don Was’ admiration for the exceptional audiophile Blue Note LP reissues presented by Music Matters. Was brought Joe Harley, a.k.a. the “Tone Poet,” on board to curate and supervise a series of reissues from the Blue Note family of labels.

Extreme attention to detail has been paid to getting these right in every conceivable way, from the jacket graphics and printing quality to superior LP mastering (direct from the master tapes) by Kevin Gray. This stereo Tone Poet Vinyl Edition is produced by Joe Harley, mastered by Gray (Cohearent Audio) from the original analog master tapes, pressed on 180g vinyl at Record Technology Inc. (RTI), and packaged in a deluxe gatefold tip-on jacket.

Musicians:
Bobby Hutcherson – Vibraphone
Harold Land – Tenor Saxophone
Chick Corea – Piano
Reggie Johnson – Bass
Joe Chambers – Drums

Side A:

1. Herzog
2. Total Eclipse
3. Matrix

Side B:

1. Same Shame
2. Pompeian