Jutta Hipp with Zoot Sims - Jutta Hipp with Zoot Sims (2019) [Hi-Res]

Jutta Hipp With Zoot Sims on Blue Note Records is a magnificent recording from start to finish, the apparently effortless swing is a joy to hear and tap your feet to. German Pianist Hipp is joined by Zoot on tenor sax, Jerry Lloyd on trumpet, Ahmed Abdul Malik on bass and her regular drummer Ed Thigpen. Just Blues starts things off in style and basically the exceptional standard then continues for the duration of the album’s six tunes. Not a typical Blue Note hardbop date by any means, this is very lyrical music and the treatment of the ballad Violets For Your Furs, is a thing of startling beauty. Considering the quality on display here it’s a shame that this was to be Hipp’s final recording before she retired from music to pursue other areas of work in New York. There is an earlier two volume live trio album from The Hickory House, also on Blue Note, which is well worth acquiring if you get the chance; you won’t be disappointed, this woman was a special talent. Five star album.

"Jutta Hipp, a talented German pianist, came to the United States in the mid-'50s and quickly gained some attention. However, she was soon criticized for sounding too close to Horace Silver and, after recording this final Blue Note album, she gradually dropped out of music. Reissued in 1996 on CD with two extra selections, Hipp's boppish music on the set is very enjoyable and swinging. Oddly enough, she does not sound at all like Silver on the date, making one wonder why she soon left the jazz world. Teamed up with great tenor Zoot Sims (who dominates the music), somewhat hesitant trumpeter Jerry Lloyd (who briefly came out of retirement), bassist Ahmed Abdul-Malik, and drummer Ed Thigpen, Hipp sounds excellent on a couple of basic originals and such standards as "Violets for Your Furs," "Almost Like Being in Love," and J.J. Johnson's "Wee Dot." This formerly rare set is well worth picking up by straight-ahead jazz collectors." (Scott Yanow, AMG)

Jutta Hipp, piano
Zoot Sims, tenor saxophone
Jerry Lloyd, trumpet
Ahmed Abdul-Malik, bass
Ed Thigpen, drums

Recorded on July 28, 1956 at Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, New Jersey
Produced by Alfred Lion

Digitally remastered