In the Vanguard

by Scott YanowVibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson was once associated with the avant-garde to a certain extent but by the 1970s it was clear he had found his voice in the modern mainstream of jazz. This live set from the Village Vanguard features him on both vibes and marimbas with stellar sidemen: pianist Kenny Barron, bassist Buster Williams and drummer Al Foster. Their repertoire (in addition to Hutcherson's "I Wanna Stand over There") is comprised of five standards and the results are high-quality modern bebop. The communication between the players is quite impressive.