Dance With Death - Andrew Hill (1LP Vinyl) [Tone Poet Series]

Dance With Death by Andrew Hill.

Andrew Hill's "Dance With Death" arrives as part of the celebrated Blue Note Tone Poet Series, and it carries all the hallmarks that have made this line a magnet for serious collectors. Housed in a single pocket gatefold sleeve, the record is protected by a clear plastic outer bearing the distinctive Tone Poet Series hype sticker on the front, a small badge announcing the care and reverence that went into its production.

The session at the heart of this album was captured on October 11, 1968, at the legendary Van Gelder Studios in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. That address alone conjures decades of jazz history, and Hill's music here occupies that space with the restless intelligence and structural daring that defined his work throughout the era. From the opening of "Yellow Violet" through "Partitions" and "Fish 'N Rice" on the first side, the pianist maps out his singular sense of harmony and forward motion.

Flip to the second side and the title track "Dance With Death" leads the way, followed by the more reflective "Love Nocturne" and the closing "Black Sabbath." Across these six compositions, Hill's writing rewards repeated listening, unfolding new detail with every pass and confirming his reputation as one of the most thoughtful voices to record for Blue Note.

This is where the Tone Poet treatment truly earns its keep. The record was cut directly from the original analog tapes, preserving the immediacy and warmth of that 1968 session without unnecessary intervention. Pressed on 180 gram vinyl and manufactured at Record Technology Inc. (RTI), the disc delivers the kind of quiet surfaces and dynamic depth that let Hill's playing breathe as it was meant to.

The pressing details tell the full story for the catalog-minded. The front cover carries the number 73160, while the back cover and spine show B0034167-01, with ST-73160 also appearing on the back cover and BST 73160 running across the spine and labels. This is a Blue Note Records release, a division of Liberty Records, Inc., with a ℗ 1980 and © 2022 credit to UMG Recordings, Inc., and Blue Note remains a registered trademark of Capitol Records, LLC.

For anyone building a library of essential Blue Note sessions, "Dance With Death" is a rewarding addition, marrying one of Andrew Hill's most compelling dates with the analog fidelity and craftsmanship of the Tone Poet Series. It is a record that honors both the music and the medium, ready to spin on the turntable of any listener who values the artistry of postwar jazz at its most adventurous.

Pressing Details:
Comes in a single pocket gatefold sleeve. The protective clear plastic outer has a 'Blue Note Tone Poet Series' hype sticker on the front.

Catalog numbers' locations: B0034167-01 - back cover and spine; 73160 - front cover; ST-73160 - back cover; BST 73160 - spine and labels.

[Back cover]
Recorded on October 11, 1968, at Van Gelder Studios, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.
A Blue Note Records release; ℗ 1980 © 2022 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Blue Note® is a registered trademark of Capitol Records, LLC.

[Labels]
Blue Note Records release · a division of Liberty Records, Inc.
A Blue Note Records release; ℗ 1980 © 2022 UMG Recordings, Inc.

['Blue Note Tone Poet Series' sticker]
Cut directly from the original analog tapes.
Manufactured at Record Technology Inc. (RTI) on 180 gram vinyl

Track Listing:
A1. Yellow Violet
A2. Partitions
A3. Fish 'N Rice
B1. Dance With Death
B2. Love Nocturne
B3. Black Sabbath

Artist: Andrew Hill

Format: 1LP

Genre: Jazz

Label: Blue Note

Catalog Number: B0034167-01

Series: Tone Poet Series

Release Year: 2023

Country: United States

Condition: Sealed (New)