Hipp, Jutta: At the Hickory House Vol. 1 (Blue Note Classic) LP

German jazz pianist Jutta Hipp is one of the most intriguing yet little-known figures in Blue Note history, a unique and short-lived presence on the NYC Jazz scene of the mid-1950s. Following Blue Note’s 1954 release of the 10” LP New Faces – New Sounds From Germany recorded in Frankfurt, Hipp moved to the U.S. with the aid of critic Leonard Feather and in 1956 recorded two more Blue Note dates: the charming two volume live albums At The Hickory House and the sublime studio session Jutta Hipp with Zoot Sims. The Hickory House recordings, captured on a single April evening and the NYC club, found Hipp in a trio accompanied by bassist Peter Ind and drummer Ed Thigpen. Volume 1 presents a well-selected set of jazz standards (including “I’ll Remember April” and “Dear Old Stockholm”) and bebop themes (Charlie Parker’s “Billie’s Bounce” and Tadd Dameron’s “Lady Bird”) that serve as a showcase of the her hip, lightly-swinging style.