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| Andrew Hill (1931 - 2007) Andrew Hill (June 30, 1931[1] – April 18, 2007)? famous American jazz pianist and composer, died at his home in Jersey City on April 18, 2007. Andrew Hill suffered from lung cancer during the last years of his life. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, June 30, 1931. Hill took up piano at 13, and was encouraged by Earl Hines. He was referred by jazz composer Bill Russo to Paul Hindemith, with whom he studied until 1952. While a teenager he performed in rhythm and blues bands and with touring jazz musicians, including Charlie Parker and Miles Davis. Hill's reputation was made by his Blue Note recordings as leader from 1963 to 1970, which featured several other important post-bop musicians including Joe Chambers, Richard Davis, Eric Dolphy, Bobby Hutcherson, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Elvin Jones, Woody Shaw, and Tony Williams, as well as John Gilmore. Hill also played on albums by Henderson, Hank Mobley, and Sam Rivers. His distinctive compositions accounted for four of the six pieces on Bobby Hutcherson's classic Dialogue album. Hill rarely worked as a sideman after the 1960s, preferring to play his own compositions. This may have limited his public exposure. He obtained a doctorate in music from Colgate University of Hamilton and served as the university's composer in residence from 1970 to 1972. He later taught in California and at Portland State University before returning to New York City in 1990. Hill's music can be characterized as post-bop with tendencies towards the avant-garde. His earlier work, particularly the album Point of Departure, featuring contributions from Eric Dolphy and Tony Williams, exhibits Hill's desire to advance while remaining grounded in the tradition of his predecessors. Throughout, his skill as a composer can be sensed as the band ventures into unknown territory while still remaining precise and controlled. Hill's compositions have a contemplative mood. He was known for the rhythmic and harmonic complexity of his performances and compositions. Hill worked in the avant garde and modal jazz idioms. His album Dusk was selected as the best album of 2001 by both Down Beat and Jazz Times; and in 2003, Hill received the Jazzpar Prize. As a consequence of his renewed prominence, a new Blue Note album titled Time Lines was released on February 21, 2006. write your comments about the article :: © 2007 Jazz News :: home page |