Review of the Andrew Hill CD Dance With Death

One word describes the CD Dance With Death from Andrew Hill... AWESOME!

I wish it weren't the case but, it's not everyday that I get a CD from an artist that I can just pop in and comfortably listen to from beginning to end. There is usually a song or two that I just can't force myself to get through. Not at all the case with Dance With Death. Every track is enjoyable and was pretty easy for me to listen to from start to finish.

Dance With Death has a nicely varied, mix of 7 tracks that are very well written songs by this clearly outstanding artist. Most of the songs display a lot of the kind emotion that makes for a really great listen. Seemingly drawing from what I can only imagine are him own real life experiences. At different points touching on the most real emotions like love, and the pain of failed relationships can certainly be heard.

Dance With Death is a first rate CD, delivering a little something for everyone. I give it two thumbs up. It's quite simply great listening. A must buy if you're even mildly into Jazz music.

While this entire CD is outstanding some of my favorites are track 4 - Dance With Death, track 5 - Love Nocturne, and track 7 - Dance With Death

My Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 1 - Yellow Violet. Great track!

Dance With Death Release Notes:

Andrew Hill originally released Dance With Death on October 5, 2004 on the Blue Note Records label.

CD Track List Follows:

1. Yellow Violet 2. Partitions 3. Fish 'N' Rice 4. Dance With Death 5. Love Nocturne 6. Black Sabbath 7. Dance With Death - (previously unreleased, alternate take, bonus track)

Personnel: Andrew Hill (piano); Joe Farrell (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); Charles Tolliver (trumpet); Victor Sproles (double bass); Billy Higgins (drums).

Recording information: Van Gelder Studios, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey (10/11/1968).

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