R.I.P. Bobby Hutcherson. I remember seeing him play at one of the Vibe Summits. He was the featured artist and last on the bill. Maybe a dozen vibraphonists preceded him, unknown, well known, chops galore. Quite an afternoon. Then came Bobby’s turn. After a few minutes my wife said how come all the others didn’t sound like that? They didn’t. It’s like they were playing notes, beautiful, wonderful notes, and he was playing colors. Washes of colors. He painted while they played. And I never heard anybody thereafter who even came close to what he did. Bobby Hutcherson just had that Bobby Hutcherson thing down. And now he’s gone.

Bobby Hutcherson. Copped the photo from the Jazz Times site, no idea who took such a splendid shot.