Andrew Hill – Illusion
Andrew Hill – One For One
Andrew Hill – Poinsettia
I first came into contact with this 2-LP set at Groove Merchant in 2001. As is the case with most of my trips there, Cool Chris asked me if I had heard this collection and recommended that I give it a listen. At the time I was not a big fan of Andrew Hill’s work, did not own any of his albums and wouldn’t have been able to distinguish his playing from any number of capable pianists that emerged in the wake of Monk. A quick buzz through of the music was fairly uneventful until I dropped the needle on “Illusion”. The reaction I had then is fairly similar to the reaction I have everytime I drop the needle (or click on a digital dub as is the case here on the blog) on this fascinating and beautiful song. I feel like time slows, perhaps even stops, as soon as the strings come in after that initial crack of the snare from Freddie Waits, and I am completely transported into pure serenity as the rhythm begins led by Hill’s piano and anchored by Waits and Ron Carter on Bass. 
I can say without a doubt, that in my mind at least, “Illusion” is one of the best and most unique tracks released by Hill or any other artist on the Blue Note label. Subtly funky at its core, but complex in its composition and improvisation and stately with the addition of Kermit Moore’s string quartet.
What’s all the more amazing about this song and the recording session it was recorded in is that they were never released until 1975 on the “Re-issue” series that in this case wasn’t “reissuing” anything since all the material on all four sides was previously unreleased. Perhaps because of my love affair with “Illusion” I’m most drawn to the side of music recorded in August 1969 with Kermit Moore’s string section (“Poinsettia” is another selection from this session), but the session from 1970 that covers the first side of music, and also features Bennie Maupin and Ron Carter in a group that subtracts Waits, but adds Ben Riley on drums, Pat Patrick on reeds and Charles Tolliver on trumpet, is just as fascinating. “One For One” has a deeply soulful and funky rhythm but it is interlaced with complex, yet never dense, layers of notes from Hill, punctuated by horns and flutes.
Despite the cut-out nature of this series, it’s fairly rare to find this set. I suspect a lot of people might have passed on it all together had Madlib not sampled Hill for his Shades Of Blue remix project back in 2003. If you happen upon one I highly suggest you don’t just walk on by. Music like this was meant to be heard and cherished as is the legacy of a player and educator of the caliber of Andrew Hill.
Cheers,
Michael
P.S. here is the instrumental interlude that Madlib created out of “Illusion”. I think you’ll agree it’s far too short and something so gorgeous really deserved to be developed beyond it’s less than one minute running time: