Andrew Hill

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jazz, piano, free jazz, avant-garde, avant-garde jazz… see all

Andrew Hill (born June 30, 1931 – April 20, 2007) was an American jazz pianist and composer. Hill first recorded as a sideman in 1955, but his reputation was made by his Blue Note recordings as leader from 1963 to 1969, which featured several other important post-bop musicians including Eric Dolphy, Bobby Hutcherson, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Woody Shaw, and Tony Williams, as well as two of John Gilmore’s rare outings away from Sun Ra. Hill also played on albums by Hutcherson (Dialogue, 1965), Henderson (Our Thing, 1963), Hank Mobley (No Room for Squares, 1963), and Sam Rivers (Involution, 1966).

Hill has rarely worked as a sideman since then, preferring to play his own compositions. As a result, his public exposure has been severely limited. He obtained a doctorate in music from Colgate University and served as the university’s composer in residence from 1970 to 1972. He later taught in California and at Portland State University. He returned to New York City in 1990.

Andrew Hill has continued to perform and record, working in the avant garde and modal jazz idioms. He has always been known for the rhythmic and harmonic complexity of his performances and compositions. His album Dusk was selected as the best album of 2001 by both Downbeat and Jazztimes. As a consequence of his renewed prominence, a new Blue Note album titled Time Lines was released on February 21, 2006.

Hill passed away on April 20th, 2007 after a long battle with cancer.

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Time Lines
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Lift Every Voice
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1	Mira full track	92
2	Hey Hey	88
3	Soul Special	83
4	Black Fire full track	67
5	Illusion	47
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7	Tired Trade full track	41
8	Subterfuge full track	38
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10	Spectrum full track	30
11	Land Of Nod full track	29
12	Mcneil Island full track	28
13	New Monastery full track	22
14	Refuge full track	21
15	Venture Inward	20

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fergalmc wrote:
last month

Do not underrate Judgement either with Elvin Jones Bobby Hutcherson and the Brilliant (he play on Van's Astral Weeks) Richard Davis. That Rudy Van Gelder Blue note sound

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sssymptoms wrote:
last month

haha, very true

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Justin1983 wrote:
July 2008

There should just be more love for Andrew Hill, I say =)

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sssymptoms wrote:
July 2008

There should be more love for Compulsion, I think.

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Janketastic wrote:
July 2008

Man, Point of Departure is so incredible. Probably my second favorite jazz album behind A Love Supreme.

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frogphobia wrote:
June 2008

Saw Andrew Hill play at Earshot jazz festival in Seattle shortly before he passed away. Fantastic and beautiful show.

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darqilem wrote:
June 2008

http://www.lastfm.it/music/Dario+Chillemi

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BlindWilliam wrote:
May 2008

Now this is what we're talking about. As a pianist, Hill's style was marked by extreme chromaticism, complex, dense chords, flowing, legato phrasing, and frequent rubato. He would often play against the rhythmic pulse, or move into different time signatures. Mad genius. 'F yer interested, bring yourself over to Great Black Music. Weave Andrew into the fabric.

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Justin1983 wrote:
April 2008

I added 12 more photos of Hill to his Pics gallery. Vote on 'em! =)

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lemonhouse wrote:
December 2007

Passing Ships is such a good album, Noon Tide is an absolute classic track! Favourite song is probably Ghetto Lights from Lift Every Voice

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Desistfilm wrote:
July 2007

Brill

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skyl4r wrote:
June 2007

RIP... just found out

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WhiteAmerica2 wrote:
June 2007

Judgment! So awesome.

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Ricecontrol wrote:
May 2007

RIP

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BlindWilliam wrote:
April 2007

DA homies @ Destination Out leave us a couple tracks as a memorial to Andrew Hill. It links to an earlier post St. Hill Blues.

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andruini wrote:
April 2007

he will be greatly missed. one of the greatest jazzmen ever.

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WhiteAmerica2 wrote:
April 2007

RIP dude.

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IamFlood wrote:
April 2007

RIP

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shoyland wrote:
April 2007

What a unique voice.

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barewires wrote:
April 2007

Point of Departure is a gem from the 60s. It also has Joe Henderson, Eric Dolphy, Kenny Dorham, and the very young Tony Williams.

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