Bobby Hutcherson
's second quartet session,
Oblique
, shares both pianist
Herbie Hancock
and drummer
Joe Chambers
with his first,
Happenings
(bassist
Albert Stinson
is a newcomer). However, the approach is somewhat different this time around. For starters, there's less emphasis on
Hutcherson
originals; he contributes only three of the six pieces, with one from
Hancock
and two from the typically free-thinking
Chambers
. And compared to the relatively simple compositions and reflective soloing on
,
is often more complex in its
post-bop
style and more emotionally direct (despite what the title may suggest). The latter is especially true on the two opening
pieces, the sweetly lilting
"'Til Then"
and the innocent, childlike theme of
"My Joy,"
which is reminiscent of
"Little B's Poem"
(save for its multi-sectioned structure). Meanwhile,
' experiments with counterpoint in the context of group
improvisation
keep getting more evocative. The title cut is quick and driving, with lots of short, fleeting exchanges between
and a surprisingly swinging
;
"Bi-Sectional"
makes playful use of chromaticism in its first part, after which
and
switch between several different percussion instruments for what amounts to an artillery attack. As for the other pieces,
's
"Subtle Neptune"
fuses
with
Brazilian
rhythms, and
"Theme From 'Blow Up'"
is a spare modal melody over a repeated chordal vamp, somewhat reminiscent of his classic
"Maiden Voyage."
All the performances are spirited enough to make the sophisticated music sound winning and accessible as well, which means that
is one of the better entries in
Blue Note
discography and one worth tracking down. ~ Steve Huey