Hallock Hill

Steve Tibbetts, “Ur,” Yr (ECM, 1980).

Four years after Rypdal’s After the Rain, ECM released the first of a series of albums by Minneapolis-native Steve Tibbetts (Frammis had put out a self-titled debut in 1976). This also came to me in the Peacock Records bargain bin, a place of endless fascination (I even found Zappa’s Apostrophe/Overnight Sensation there!) Tibbetts shares some of Rypdal’s concerns, and can certainly rock out, as exemplified on this track. This is an insistent record, and pushes the boundaries of jazz and rock. Again “prog” gets thrown around. I never thought of it that way (and admit I didn’t even know the term at that age). I was struck by the power of his playing and phrasing. This was sexy, tough, vibrant music for boys who wore glasses.