Bobby Hutcherson/Joe Locke “Homage to Milt Jackson“ live at JazzBaltica 2007

Bobby Hutcherson - Vibraphone
Joe Locke - Vibraphone
Don Friedman - Piano
Martin Wind - Bass
Andi Haberl - Drums
Johannes Enders - Tenor Saxophone
Darren Barrett - Trumpet

recorded live at Große Konzertscheune, Salzau, July 2007

1. I Love You
2. Mr. PC
3. Old Folks
4. Star Eyes
5. What Is This Thing Called Love?
6. My Foolish Heart
7. Bag´s Groove

Born on Jan. 1, 1923, in Detroit, Milt Jackson's musical beginnings were in the neighborhood gospel churches as a pianist, guitarist, violinist percussionist and singer. He took up the vibraphone in high school. He moved to New York, played with Earl Hines and in 1945, joined Dizzy Gillespie's big band rhythm section, which also included pianist John Lewis, bassist Ray Brown and drummer Kenny Clarke. He worked with Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk and Miles Davis and in 1951 recorded with Gillespie bandmates Lewis, Clarke and Brown. Inspired by that recording, they reformed as the Modern Jazz Quartet in 1952 with Percy Heath replacing Ray Brown and Connie Kay taking the drum chair after the departure of Kenny Clarke in 1955. For the following 50 years the sound of Milton “Bags” Jackson's vibraphone would signature the Modern Jazz Quartet and inspire generations of followers. Jackson's impassioned improvisations and compositions, including “Bluesology” and “Bag's Groove,” helped define the MJQ sound. Jackson recorded many splendid dates as a leader, including, The Ballad Artistry Of Milt Jackson, Ballads And Blues and Big Band Bags, and worked with many jazz immortals, including John Coltrane, Coleman Hawkins, Ray Charles and Quincy Jones. In '99 he fronted an exciting album date with the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Explosive! (Qwest). He died in 1999.

"Bobby Hutcherson´s vibraphone playing is suggestive of the style of Milt Jackson in its free-flowing melodicism, but his sense of harmony and group interaction is thoroughly modern. Hutcherson has influenced younger vibraphonists like Steve Nelson, Joe Locke and Stefon Harris" (Wikipedia)

”Joe Locke is a wonderful young man who's all about the music, all the time! You can hear it in every note he plays.” (Bobby Hutcherson)

Bobby Hutcherson´s latest recording "Wise One" was released in 2009 on Kind of Blue Records.