Andrew Hill's Black Fire

Andrew Hill, a Chicago-born jazz pianist, is one of the most unique piano composers and players in the jazz idiom. His debut album, Black Fire, is usually overlooked in favor of his subsequent release, Point of Departure. In my opinion, his debut is better and really highlights his unique voice on the piano keys. His compositions have angular melodies, which are reminiscent of Monk, but his style often sounds like 1960s Herbie Hancock in his modal phase. Like Grachan Moncur III and Wayne Shorter, Hill has some of the most memorable melodies in his music, and he's not as avant-garde as Cecil Taylor so he's much easier to listen to.

I highly recommend the title track, "Black Fire." It's a funky little piece built on Joe Henderson's bluesy saxophone and Hill's polyrhythmic approach to the piano. The title alone seems to refer to black culture and musical traditions, which would explain the polyrhythmic funkiness of the track. While embracing more traditional forms, however, Hill does not sacrifice his unique sound. The melodies are still angular and he often incorporates Afro-Cuban and Latin rhythms in several compositions. I also recommend "Subterfuge" and "Cantarnos" from this album.