Bobby Hutcherson – Montara (Blue Note Tone Poet)

Bobby Hutcherson’s Montara, released in 1975 on Blue Note, represents a lush blend of jazz, fusion, and Latin rhythms, channeling both warmth and rhythmic brightness. Recorded over two sessions in Los Angeles, the album features Hutcherson on vibraphone and marimba, surrounded by a standout ensemble including Blue Mitchell, Ernie Watts, Harvey Mason, and a rich percussion section. The repertoire interweaves original compositions with covers like Tito Puente’s “Oye Como Va,” offering both groove and expansive melodic spaces. Across tracks like “Camel Rise,” the title track “Montara,” and the energetic “(Se Acabo) La Malanga,” there’s a sense of effortless, sunlit flow.

The production (arranged by Dale Oehler) honours Hutcherson’s background in post-bop and experimentation while leaning into accessible, danceable textures without sacrificing sophistication. The rhythmic interplay—electric piano, horns, layered percussion—helps the record strike a balance: it feels intimate and deeply musical, yet invites movement and energy. Over time Montara has become one of Hutcherson’s most cherished works among fans of Latin jazz and groove, its atmosphere evocative of its mid-70s moment yet still fresh and appealing today.

Reviews

“Montara is one of the great feel-good jazz albums of the 1970s, one of the great Latin jazz albums of the 1970s, and one of the great groove jazz records. Seek it out without hesitation.” – AllMusic