Andrew Hill

On Point of Departure, Andrew Hill convenes a dream ensemble: Eric Dolphy on alto, bass clarinet, and flute, Joe Henderson on tenor sax, Kenny Dorham on trumpet, Richard Davis on bass, and Tony Williams on drums. Hill’s compositions bend conventional form with asymmetrical phrases, overlapping lines, and harmonies that hover between centres, creating a sense of forward motion as much psychological as rhythmic. Each soloist finds personal routes through these landscapes, resulting in music that is dense but breathable, exploratory but never aimless. It’s one of the most remarkable group statements of the 1960s, and a testament to Hill’s singular compositional voice.