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Bobby Hutcherson was a jazz vibraphone and marimba player known for his innovative style and significant contributions to free jazz, post-bop, and hard bop, influencing generations of musicians.
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Request A ShowBobby Hutcherson signed a record deal with Blue Note and remained with the label for 15 years, releasing numerous albums as a leader and appearing as a sideman on many recordings.
Hutcherson was a founding member of the SFJAZZ Collective, an all-star octet that debuted in 2004, touring with them for four years and appearing at the SFJAZZ Center's grand opening in 2013.
In 2010, Hutcherson received the lifetime Jazz Master Fellowship Award from the National Endowment for the Arts.
After his extensive career with Blue Note, Hutcherson recorded three albums for Columbia Records in the late 1970s.
Hutcherson reunited with Harold Land in the early 1980s for several recordings as the 'Timeless All Stars,' releasing four albums for the Dutch label, Timeless Records.
From the 1980s into the early 1990s, Hutcherson recorded eight albums for Landmark Records.
Hutcherson released albums for Atlantic in the 1990s.
Hutcherson released albums for Verve in the 1990s.
In the 21st century, Hutcherson released three albums for the Swiss-based label Kind of Blue.
In 2008, Hutcherson was the recipient of a lifetime achievement award from the Sedona Jazz on the Rocks festival in Arizona.
Robert “Bobby” Hutcherson was born on January 27, 1941, in Los Angeles, California. He was introduced to jazz at a young age, with his brother listening to Art Blakey records and his older sister, Peggy, being a singer in Gerald Wilson’s orchestra. Hutcherson’s musical journey began definitively around age 12 after hearing Milt Jackson play “Bemsha Swing,” which inspired him to take up the vibraphone. He started his professional career in the late 1950s, performing with artists like Curtis Amy and Carmell Jones in Los Angeles. His early work also included collaborations with Eric Dolphy and Charles Lloyd at Pandora’s Box on the Sunset Strip.
Hutcherson’s recording debut was in 1960 with the Les McCann trio for Pacific Jazz. He then joined the Billy Mitchell–Al Grey group in 1962, touring before settling in New York City. A pivotal moment came when his childhood friend, bassist Herbie Lewis, introduced him to Grachan Moncur III, leading to Hutcherson’s first recording for Blue Note Records in 1963 on Jackie McLean’s album, “One Step Beyond.” This marked the beginning of an extensive period with Blue Note, where he recorded with notable musicians such as Eric Dolphy, Dexter Gordon, Andrew Hill, Tony Williams, and Joe Henderson. His debut as a leader for Blue Note, “The Kicker,” recorded in 1963, showcased his hard bop and blues roots. He continued to record prolifically for Blue Note, establishing a long-standing relationship with the label.
In 1967, Hutcherson relocated to California, forming a significant partnership with Harold Land, resulting in seven albums for Blue Note. He won the “World’s Best Vibist” award in the International Jazz Critics Poll in 1971. Post-Blue Note, he recorded for Columbia Records in the late 1970s. The 1980s saw a reunion with Land for several recordings as the “Timeless All Stars.” Hutcherson released eight albums with Landmark Records and continued to tour and record into the 21st century, including three albums for Kind of Blue. In 2004, he became a founding member of the SFJAZZ Collective, and in 2010, received the NEA Jazz Master Fellowship Award. His final album, “Enjoy the View,” was released on Blue Note Records in 2014. Hutcherson passed away on August 15, 2016, at the age of 75.
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