BOBBY HUTCHERSON (vibraphonist, bandleader) was born January 27, 1941 in Los Angeles, CA. Hutcherson’s early recordings with Jackie McLean, Eric Dolphy, Freddie Hubbard, Archie Shepp and Grant Green as leader and sideman followed largely a more “free jazz” experimental style and included appearances on many landmark albums of the time including “One Step Beyond” . One of his early recordings “The Kicker” recorded in 1963 but not released until 1999- is in more of a hard bop style which is characteristic of his later recordings, he also began a lasting association with McCoy Tyner in this period. A longtime Blue Note recording artist, Hutcherson kept up a busy touring schedule and in recent years has become a member of the San Francisco Jazz Collective.