Somewhere in the Night

Bobby Hutcherson was in his seventies at the time of this live set at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola in the fall of 2009, still very much at the top of his game. His band with organist Joey DeFrancesco, guitarist Peter Bernstein, and drummer Byron Landham is a bit unusual, in that there have been relatively few vibes-organ quartets in jazz record dates. But the talented veteran reveals its possibilities, beginning with a romp through his furious bop vehicle "Teddy" that showcases intense solos by the leader and the organists. Next is Hutcherson's well-known jazz standard "Little B's Poem," a breezy jazz waltz written for his young son at the dawn of his career. DeFrancesco outdoes himself with his percolating solo that comes at the listener in waves. The quartet sizzles in its burning rendition of Milt Jackson's tasty blues "SKJ," leading into a hard-charging take of Duke Ellington's blues "Take the Coltrane." There are also several standards, including an infectious "Somewhere in the Night" that puts the spotlight on Bernstein, Hutcherson's lyrical playing in the delicate take of "My Foolish Heart," and an engaging, energetic version of the Gershwins' "'S Wonderful" that leaves the audience wanting more.