The Prophetic Herbie Nichols Explained

The Prophetic Herbie Nichols
Type:	Album
Artist:	the Prophetic Herbie Nichols
Cover:	The Prophetic Herbie Nichols Vol 1.jpg
Caption:	Vol. 1
Released:	1955
Recorded:	May 6, 1955 (Vol. 1) May 13, 1955 (Vol. 2)
Studio:	Van Gelder Studio Hackensack, New Jersey
Genre:	Jazz
Length:	26:43 (Vol. 1) 28:30 (Vol. 2)
Label:	Blue Note BLP 5068 (Vol. 1) BLP 5069 (Vol. 2)
Producer:	Alfred Lion
Chronology:	Herbie Nichols
Next Title:	Herbie Nichols Trio
Next Year:	1956

The Prophetic Herbie Nichols, Vols. 1 & 2 are a pair of separate but related ten-inch LPs by jazz pianist Herbie Nichols recorded on May 6 & 13, 1955 respectively and released on Blue Note later that year.^[1]

Reception

Although originally unheralded at the time of release Nichols' Blue Note recordings have gained recognition as highly original and ground-breaking compositions and performances. The AllMusic review by Scott Yanow awarded Nichols' The Complete Blue Note Recordings, released in 1997, a five star rating and stated "The music is virtually unclassifiable, and although largely straight-ahead, sounds unlike anything produced by Herbie Nichols' contemporaries. Essential music."^[2]

Track listing

The Prophetic Herbie Nichols, Vol. 1

All compositions by Herbie Nichols

Side 1

1. "Dance Line" – 4:24
2. "Step Tempest" – 5:08
3. "The Third World" – 4:08

Side 2

1. "Blue Chopsticks" – 4:20
2. "Double Exposure" – 4:04
3. "Cro-Magnon Nights" – 4:39

The Prophetic Herbie Nichols, Vol. 2

All compositions by Herbie Nichols

Side 1

1. "Amoeba's Dance" – 4:29
2. "Crisp Day" – 3:43
3. "2300 Skiddoo" – 4:29

Side 2

1. "It Didn't Happen" – 5:10
2. "Shuffle Montgomery" – 5:11
3. "Brass Rings" – 5:28

Personnel

Musicians

• Herbie Nichols – piano
• Al McKibbon – bass
• Art Blakey – drums

Technical personnel

• Alfred Lion – producer (uncredited)
• Rudy Van Gelder – recording engineer
• Martin Craig – design
• Leonard Feather – liner notes

Notes and References

1. http://www.jazzdisco.org/blue-note-records/catalog-5000-series/#blp-5068 Blue Note discography
2. Yanow, S. [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=the-complete-blue-note-recordings-r144741|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic Review: ''The Complete Blue Note Recordings: Herbie Nichols] accessed November 30, 2010