Bobby Hutcherson

Widely acknowledged as one of the greatest vibraphone players of all time, Bobby Hutcherson was a jazz legend and a cornerstone session player of the legendary Blue Note recording studios. His pioneering style with its unorthodox use of open chords and harmonics, not to mention his dexterity with four mallets, soon established Hutcherson as one of the most sought-after vibraphone players in the industry. His work on Jackie Mclean's critically acclaimed album One Step Beyond, released in 1963, was the start of Hutcherson's rise to artistic prominence. During this period Hutcherson had been based on the east coast of America making appearances at venues such as New York's famous Birdland Club. In 1967 he returned to his native California and began experimenting with mainstream fusion and funk. It was the start of a busy period for Hutcherson, culminating in the release of Un Poco Loco in 1980, one of his most highly regarded works. It was the 21st solo album in a career which saw Hutcherson appear on hundreds of great jazz recordings alongside artists like Chick Corea, Dexter Gordon, John Coltrane, Harold Land and Miles Davis. He continued his playing career until 2014 when he appeared with saxophonist David Sanborn on the Blue Note session Enjoy The View. He died two years later from emphysema at the age of 75.