Andrew Hill

Point of Departure

First released1965

Point of Departure, released in 1966, was recorded at Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey under the direction of producer Alfred Lion for Blue Note Records. The album was engineered by Rudy Van Gelder, whose technical expertise with microphone placement and recording techniques captured the nuanced interplay of Hill's piano with his ensemble. The sessions featured Hill's working quintet including Joe Henderson on tenor saxophone, Kenny Dorham on trumpet, and a rhythm section of Eddie Gale on trumpet, Richard Davis on bass, and Tony Williams on drums. Hill's approach to composition and arrangement on this recording emphasized open spaces and asymmetrical forms, breaking away from conventional jazz structures of the era. The album has since become recognized as one of Hill's most influential works and a significant example of 1960s avant-garde jazz recorded during Blue Note's classic period.