A high-water mark of Bobby Hutcherson’s remarkably creative and diverse 1970s Blue Note output, Montara is a feel-good album that found the great vibraphonist conjuring up an intoxicating hybrid of Latin jazz and fusion grooves. Recorded in Hutcherson’s hometown of Los Angeles, the album featured a talented cast of musicians including Willie Bobo, Blue Mitchell, Bobby Matos, Ernie Watts, Harvey Mason, Plas Johnson, Fred Jackson, Larry Nash, and Chuck Domanico. Hutcherson’s stunning virtuosity and nuanced musicality is on full display across this set that moves between the percolating rhythms of “La Malanga,” “Yuyo,” and “Oye Como Va” and the rich harmonies and alluring textures of “Montara,” “Love Song,” and “Little Angel.”

Blue Note Tone Poet Series

The Tone Poet Audiophile Vinyl Reissue Series was born out of Blue Note President Don Was’ admiration for the exceptional audiophile Blue Note LP reissues presented by Music Matters. Was brought Joe Harley, a.k.a. the “Tone Poet,” on board to curate and supervise a series of reissues from the Blue Note family of labels.

Extreme attention to detail has been paid to getting these right in every conceivable way, from the jacket graphics and printing quality to superior LP mastering (direct from the master tapes) by Kevin Gray to superb 180g audiophile LP pressings by Record Technology Inc. Every aspect of these Tone Poet releases is done to the highest possible standard. It means that you will never find a superior version. This is IT.

This stereo Tone Poet Vinyl Edition was produced by Joe Harley, mastered by Kevin Gray (Cohearent Audio) from the original analog master tapes, pressed on 180g vinyl at Record Technology Inc. (RTI), and packaged in a deluxe tip-on jacket.

Tracklist:

A1 Camel Rise
A2 Montara
A3 (Se Acabo) La Malanga
A4 Love Song
B1 Little Angel
B2 Yuyo
B3 Oye Como Va