Andrew Hill: Black Fire (1963) Liberty Blue Note

Selection: Black Fire (Hill)

. . .

Track List 

A1. Pumpkin
A2. Subterfuge
A3. Black Fire
B1. Cantarnos
B2. Tired Trade
B3. McNeil Island
B4. Land Of Nod

Artists

Joe Henderson, tenor sax;  Andrew Hill, piano; Richard Davis, bass; Roy Haynes, drums; recorded  Rudy Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, November 9, 1963

Music

Andrew Hill could be described as “Cecil Taylor Lite”, probably doing an injustice to both pianists. Hill is musically adventurous, without falling off the edge into free, and the quartet is a long distance from free simultaneous group improvisation, rooted in rhythm and melody, allowing Hill scope to explore. He has a freer approach to chord progressions and melodic invention, without leaving them totally behind.

Joe Henderson adds his customary abrasive tenor voice, keeping improvisation within more familiar territory, but with a fresh attitude. A great combination.

Vinyl: BLP 4151

An  early Liberty issue  made shortly after its acquisition of Blue Note in 1966, previously prepared original Blue Note New York labels, with VAN GELDER machine stamped in the runout (from the acquired Blue Note stampers) but lack the telltale Plastylite “ear”, having been pressed at a Liberty plants.  Most of these deferred pressings sound the same as Blue Note originals, being pressed with Van Gelder derived metal parts.

It is significant the matrix codes bear a –1 suffix, as in BN 4051 A-1 and 4051 B-1. This means both sides are a second Van Gelder attempt to master the Hill recording. The VAN GELDER stamp confirms it is his mastering. For what ever reason, Van Gelder was not content with  the  first  master,  decided to  recut  them both. It is not uncommon to see one side remastered. Both is unusual. It suggests something  problematic with the recording. The Complete Mosiac adds two tracks as alternate takes. Possibly there was some disagreement over which takes should be issued?

The second thing that is unusual is the large faint hand etched “P14” in the runout on both sides. Never seen this before, must be related to Liberty fabrication , not on the Van Gelder metal. Original Blue Note had gone as far as printing labels and creating stampers in preparing this title for release.  All  they  hadn’t  done  is  actually press  it.

The second 27 Years inner sleeve was used exclusively for Liberty deferred Blue Note 1st issues. The master is Van Gelder, the pressing is almost  certainly  by All Disc.

Collector’s Corner

4151 Andrew Hill’s “Black Fire” brings my total of these “Liberty hybrids” to seven. They all sound very good, and have cost considerably less than chasing originals which rarely come to market. Being mono, it complements my Stereo Japanese King pressing.

Images updated and text refreshed January 1, 2023