Dusk
With such classic 1960s Blue Note recordings asJudgment,Smokestack, andPoint of Departure, pianist-composer Andrew Hill created challenging works that still defy easy categorization. Too structured to be free jazz but far too ambitious for typical bop, Hill's music demanded interpretive and improvisational input within his intense melodies. Hill has not abandoned his high standards onDusk. With drummerBilly Drummond, bassist Scott Colley, saxophonistsGregory TardyandMarty Ehrlich, and trumpeterRon Horton,Duskrecalls Hill's earlier sessions without sentimentality. Like modernMonksongs, tracks such as "Tough Love" and "15/8" bounce over rapt, rhythmic changes and demand heady involvement from each musician. "Ball Square" runs the gamut from a near-rubato intro and straight-ahead swing to a vibrant drum solo and a wailing, half-time New Orleans section. Similarly, "Sept" uses Caribbean rhythms, changing tempos and dynamics over which the musicians spin harried solos. LikeDave Douglas's recentSoul on Soul,Duskis an intensely rewarding session of unusual compositions and excellent improvisation. Highly recommended.--Ken Micallef