Oct 3, 2023
Gregory "Hutch" Hutchinson is one of the most highly regarded
and highly recorded jazz drummers on the planet. Part of what makes
him so special is that he sits at the crossroads of the old school
and the new school. He was mentored by old jazz masters like Red
Rodney, Ray Brown and Betty Carter. He worked extensively with
Joshua Redman and Roy Hargrove, among many other innovative jazz
musicians of his generation.
He has also collaborated with the likes of Common, Karriem Riggins
and James Poyser, all practitioners of a new school rhythm
approach, influenced by pioneering producer J Dilla. Hutch is
able to summon the spirit authentically from both sides because
both are part of his personal truth.
But until now he has not been a recording artist. Now, at 53 years
of age, after having played with everybody, he is releasing his
debut solo record Da Bang, and it is not necessarily
what one might have expected. Rooted in the jazz tradition,
the album demonstrates Hutchinson's versatility, dynamism, and
imagination. It may be unexpected, but as Hutch will tell you, it’s
coming straight from the heart, and the songs are as much a
reflection of the way he feels as they are of the way he plays.
Here he talks about growing up in Brooklyn, playing drums as a boy,
his mentors, the importance of personal style and of friendship
among musicians, his next phase (“this is Hutch 3.0”) and his
favorite drummers. He casually invokes so many names that talking
to Hutch is like a master class in the music, and you can feel how
important it is to him to recognize the contributions of those who
came before him, and to place his own contribution within that
context.
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