Hill, Andrew: Dance With Death (Blue Note Tone Poet) LP

The brilliant pianist and composer Andrew Hill debuted on Blue Note in 1963 with a flurry of creativity and maintained a prolific recording output through the end of the decade that left several stunning sessions unreleased in the vaults. Recorded in 1968, but not released until 1980, Dance With Death was Hill's tenth Blue Note album and it stands as one of the most gratifying though under-recognized sessions of the pianist's remarkable discography. Hill's music always inhabited a realm of its own, embracing elements of post-bop and the avant-garde without being beholden to either. This 6-song set is comprised entirely of Hill's singular compositions including "Yellow Violet," "Fish ‘N Rice," and "Love Nocturne" performed by a versatile quintet of players equally at home in experimental or swing-based settings including Charles Tolliver on trumpet, Joe Farrell on soprano and tenor saxophone, Victor Sproles on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums.