Jutta Hipp with Zoot Sims (Remastered) Jutta Hipp with Zoot Sims

• 1 Just Blues 08:38
• 2 Violets For Your Furs 06:07
• 3 Down Home 06:39
• 4 Almost Like Being In Love 06:12
• 5 Wee Dot 07:25
• 6 Too Close For Comfort 06:48
• Total Runtime 41:49

Info for Jutta Hipp with Zoot Sims (Remastered)

Jutta Hipp With Zoot Sims on Blue Note Records is a magnificent recording from start to finish, the apparently effortless swing is a joy to hear and tap your feet to. German Pianist Hipp is joined by Zoot on tenor sax, Jerry Lloyd on trumpet, Ahmed Abdul Malik on bass and her regular drummer Ed Thigpen. Just Blues starts things off in style and basically the exceptional standard then continues for the duration of the album’s six tunes. Not a typical Blue Note hardbop date by any means, this is very lyrical music and the treatment of the ballad Violets For Your Furs, is a thing of startling beauty. Considering the quality on display here it’s a shame that this was to be Hipp’s final recording before she retired from music to pursue other areas of work in New York. There is an earlier two volume live trio album from The Hickory House, also on Blue Note, which is well worth acquiring if you get the chance; you won’t be disappointed, this woman was a special talent. Five star album.

"Jutta Hipp, a talented German pianist, came to the United States in the mid-'50s and quickly gained some attention. However, she was soon criticized for sounding too close to Horace Silver and, after recording this final Blue Note album, she gradually dropped out of music. Reissued in 1996 on CD with two extra selections, Hipp's boppish music on the set is very enjoyable and swinging. Oddly enough, she does not sound at all like Silver on the date, making one wonder why she soon left the jazz world. Teamed up with great tenor Zoot Sims (who dominates the music), somewhat hesitant trumpeter Jerry Lloyd (who briefly came out of retirement), bassist Ahmed Abdul-Malik, and drummer Ed Thigpen, Hipp sounds excellent on a couple of basic originals and such standards as "Violets for Your Furs," "Almost Like Being in Love," and J.J. Johnson's "Wee Dot." This formerly rare set is well worth picking up by straight-ahead jazz collectors." (Scott Yanow, AMG)

Jutta Hipp, piano
Zoot Sims, tenor saxophone
Jerry Lloyd, trumpet
Ahmed Abdul-Malik, bass
Ed Thigpen, drums

Recorded on July 28, 1956 at Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, New Jersey
Produced by Alfred Lion

Digitally remastered

Jutta Hipp
had a strangely brief career, dropping out of music altogether shortly after emigrating to the United States. She studied painting in Germany and played jazz during World War II. When the Soviets took over East Germany, she moved with her family to Munich. Hipp played locally and in 1952, recorded with Hans Koller. She led her own quintet in Frankfurt in 1953-1955 and recorded for several labels, including a session that was later released by Blue Note. Moving to New York in November 1955, Hipp played at the Hickory House for much of the first half of 1956, recording two trio albums for Blue Note. Although originally inspired by Lennie Tristano, she was criticized at the time for being too influenced by Horace Silver; however, a studio album from July 1956 with Zoot Sims finds her showing a fairly original style. Unfortunately, that was her final recording, for Jutta Hipp soon dropped out of music, returned to painting, then worked as a seamstress. She lost contact with the music world to the extent that Blue Note didn’t know where her royalties should be sent until 2000. Three years later, at the age of 78, Jutta Hipp passed away in the Queens apartment where she lived alone. (Scott Yanow, AMG)

This album contains no booklet.