Andrew Hill

Point of Departure

First released1965

Point of Departure, Andrew Hill's 1964 album for Blue Note Records, was recorded at Rudy Van Gelder's renowned studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on February 17, 1964. The album was produced by Alfred Lion, Blue Note's co-founder, with Van Gelder handling the engineering and mixing, establishing the sonic clarity characteristic of Blue Note's output during this period. The session featured Hill's working quartet with Joe Henderson on tenor saxophone, Kenny Dorham on trumpet, Richard Davis on bass, and Tony Williams on drums. Hill's innovative piano compositions and arrangements showcased his modernist approach to bebop harmony, while the tight ensemble interplay reflected the musician-first philosophy that defined Blue Note's recording aesthetic during the 1960s.