Seasoned vibraphone man Bobby Hutcherson’s Montara is perfectly in line with the 70s Blue Note jazz-funk pedigree, with a spoonful of uptown latin jazz for added flavor. Relatively underutilized by samplers and diggers until Madlib’s Shades Of Blue contained a cover of the title track. The latin boys are mostly relegated to percussion here, and they contribute a dazzling layer of texture that sets this LP apart from other landmark jazz-funk sides from this period. The title track is the one to check for sure, with Hutch’s dextrous vibe twinkling front and center, propped up by some slow-mo percussion and extra deep electric piano chords courtesy of Larry Nash with Hutcherson and Dale Oehler on arrangement duties. “Love Song” and “Little Angel” are more deep slow burners, with moody chords and more of that drive-slow groove (these guys were def rinising “Why Can’t We Live Together”). There’s an objectively ‘meh’ cover of “Oye Como Va” tacked on to the very end to let you know Blue Note wasn’t exempt from the mainstream pandering going on in the 70s jazz scene. First official vinyl pressing in over 40 years sounds great on heavy 180g wax, pressed in Spain, exquisite cover art too. Recommended.

• 180g black vinyl pressing
• pressed in Spain
• originally released in 1975
• music label: Blue Note 2019

reviewed by nick nightingale 10/2019