As well as its absorbing musical details, we have here a fascinating insight into Blue Note’s reaction to the winds of change in the 1960s. Initially cautious about the free-jazz movement, they nevertheless signed Eric Dolphy (who made Out To Lunch!, then promptly went to Europe and died) followed by Ornette Coleman, clearly acknowledging that something was afoot.

But they also worked with many younger musicians who were interested in the goings-on, such as Joe Henderson and Bobby Hutcherson. The latter’s recordings under his own name cover the ground from free-leaning compositions to adventurous straight-ahead playing, with some creative post-bop funk in between. What stands out strongly is Hutcherson’s gifts as a colourist behind other soloists, and especially the strength of his own improvisations, which have the fluency and seemingly the articulation of a saxophonist.

He gradually emerges too as a composer, though the contributions of drummer Joe Chambers are also considerable (no fewer than 16 pieces from the eight albums he appears on). The work of the star-studded accompanists – just look at the above list – is memorable too, never more than on the three albums with Miles-era Herbie Hancock (remarkably so on the quartet outing Happenings, which includes a version of ‘Maiden Voyage’, while the slightly less spectacular quartet Oblique has his ‘Theme From Blow Up’). In addition to the more obvious solo contenders, it’s fascinating to hear the post-Coltrane work of Harold Land, previously renowned for his work with Clifford Brown-Max Roach but with whom Hutcherson co-led a late-1960s-early-70s quintet. This compilation, deliberately omitting Bobby’s 1969 crossover effort Now!, includes 11 whole albums (with eight new alternate takes, three of them from the Happenings session). Only six of the 11 were issued immediately, while the remainder were often discovered in the files by the late Michael Cuscuna (see Jazzwise 296). Whereas the Mosaic company he co-founded is now forging ahead, this is the last reissue which he personally produced.