March 7, 2019
Natural Illusions is one of the rare Bobby Hutcherson dates that finds the vibraphonist flirting with the mainstream and fusion. Hutcherson leads a band that features Ron Carter and George Duvivieralternating on bass, guitarist Gene Bertoncini, pianist Hank Jones, drummer Jack DeJohnette and harpist Gene Bianco. The group plays a selection of standards (“The Folks Who Live on the Hill,” “Sophisticated Lady,” “Lush Life”), contemporary hits (“The Thrill is Gone”), and new jazz songs, giving them all a smooth, lush treatment. There’s little of the unpredictable phrasing and modal harmonies that distinguished Hutcherson’s albums, and the music often sounds conventional, making it one of the lesser efforts in his catalog.
