Judgment!

Judgment!
Studio album by Andrew Hill
Released	September 1964[1]
Recorded	January 8, 1964 Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs
Genre	Post bop, modal jazz, avant-garde jazz
Length	42:57
Label	Blue Note Records BST 84159
Producer	Alfred Lion
Andrew Hill chronology
Smoke Stack (1964) Judgment! (1964) Point of Departure (1964)

Professional ratings
Review scores
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Allmusic	[2]

Judgment! is the fourth studio album by jazz pianist Andrew Hill, recorded and released in 1964 on Blue Note Records. Composed of a rhythm section and vibraphone - played by Bobby Hutcherson - Hill weaves his music around a complex harmonic structure.^[3]

The pieces

The first track, "Siete Ocho", meaning "Seven Eight", is an intriguing 7/8 piece with a main theme about 20 measures long. "Flea Flop" was named "for the first notes of the melody, which seemed to suggest a jumping flea. This is also dedicated to the hotels and motels that jazz sidemen are obliged to stay in all over the country." The composition "Yokada Yokada" was named after the song "Yakety Yak", referring to "senseless dialogue between people," whilst "Alfred" was, of course, dedicated to producer Alfred Lion because of his "natural understanding of jazz in general," and because of the rapport that was established in the interpretation of Hill's tunes. The title track "Judgment" was inspired by a poem written by Hill's wife, Lavern. Ultimately, "Reconciliation" wants to represent "the adjustment every musician has to make to achieve unity and harmony with the rest of the group."^[4]

Track listing

All compositions by Andrew Hill

1. "Siete Ocho" - 8:58
2. "Flea Flop" - 7:21
3. "Yokada Yokada" - 5:17
4. "Alfred" - 7:04
5. "Judgment" - 6:53
6. "Reconciliation" - 7:24
7. "Yokada Yokada" [alternate take] - 5:12 Bonus track on CD

Personnel

• Andrew Hill - piano
• Bobby Hutcherson - vibraphone
• Richard Davis - double-bass
• Elvin Jones - drums

References