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Jutta Hipp

EARLY CAREER IN GERMANY

She had been active as a professional pianist in her native Germany from 1946 on, was a member of the Hans Koller Quartet in the early 1950s and from 1954-55 led her own combo, The Jutta Hipp Quintet. Members of her Frankfurt/Main based band included Emil Mangelsdorff, Joki Freund, and, on occasion, guitarist Atilla Zoller. Hipp was able to claim the honor of having been the only widely known and highly respected female jazz pianist in Germany and beyond (“Europe's First Lady of Jazz”) until the mid-1980s despite the fact that she never returned to her native country. As a pianist Hipp was deeply rooted in the swing tradition and, self-admittedly, her performance style was influenced by Count Basie and Teddy Wilson as well as Fats Waller. By the time East German refugee Hipp begun playing professionally in Bavaria in 1946, bebop had arrived as the latest “fad” in jazz. The pianist's new idol became Bud Powell. And although critics, fellow musicians, and fans recognized Lennie Tristano's influence in her playing by the early ‘50s, Hipp did not approve of such comparisons. She repeatedly went on record expressing her fondness of pianist Horace Silver as a worthy artistic inspiration—most likely for his blues-inspired rhythmic abilities. As Hipp, who also stepped forward as a composer on occasion, matured artistically, she had defined her own artistic standards and revolted when pressured to record music she did not like. She also suffered from severe stage fright throughout her career. Thus being the featured artist at a large performance venue was more of a daunting chore for Hipp than a joyful public celebration of her talent. According to her own accounts, all she wanted to do was play her music in intimate settings for jazz-enthused audiences—the way she had entertained American GIs in military clubs in Germany in the late 1940s and early 1950s.

COMING TO AMERICA

Jutta Hipp arrived in New York on November 18, 1955—on a large freighter, with fifty Dollars in her purse. The artist's immigration to the United States was sponsored and widely publicized by jazz critic Leonard Feather who had discovered Hipp while visiting Germany and was “blown away” by her talent. Within months of her arrival in New York, Hipp earned the notable distinction of becoming the first white female as well as the first European instrumentalist ever signed by the now legendary Blue Note Records label. Hipp cut three albums as leader for Blue Note in 1956.

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12
Play This!

Jutta Hipp: Remembering Blue Note's Trailblazer

Read "Jutta Hipp: Remembering Blue Note's Trailblazer" reviewed by Ian Patterson


"She's a great pianist. She's better than Toshiko [Akiyoshi], incidentally. You've heard of Jutta Hipp?" So opined Charles Mingus in Thomas Reichman's documentary film Mingus: Charlie Mingus 1968. Mingus was speaking about German- born pianist Jutta Hipp (1925-2003), who, in 1956, became the first woman to sign for Blue Note Records. For an account of Hipp's extraordinary and in many ways tragic life, see Marc Myers' JazzWax interview with jazz historian and journalist Katja von Schuttenbach. ...

24
My Blue Note Obsession

Jutta Hipp With Zoot Sims – Blue Note 1530

Read "Jutta Hipp With Zoot Sims – Blue Note 1530" reviewed by Marc Davis


The title is Jutta Hipp With Zoot Sims, but it should be the other way around. No knock on Jutta Hipp. She's great--a lively, fluid pianist who really could have been a big player in the 1950s bop scene if she hadn't suddenly disappeared and dropped out, forever. This is her date--a 1956 recording with a wonderful hard bop quintet. And if she weren't totally overshadowed by Zoot Sims, listeners might say, “Wow, that's the album where she ...

27
My Blue Note Obsession

Jutta Hipp at the Hickory House, Vol. 2 – Blue Note 1516

Read "Jutta Hipp at the Hickory House, Vol. 2 – Blue Note 1516" reviewed by Marc Davis


Raise your hand if you've never heard of Jutta Hipp. Yeah, me either. And yet, there she is, brooding and shadowy on the cover of her first Blue Note album. Yes, she--a female rarity in the almost-all-male world of 1950s Blue Note. And not American, either. Like Becks and Volkswagen, Jutta Hipp is a German import, but unlike Volkswagen, Hipp is not so very different from her male American counterparts. First, a word about finding Jutta ...

4
Album Review

Jutta Hipp: Lost Tapes: The German Recordings 1952-1955

Read "Lost Tapes: The German Recordings 1952-1955" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


German-born pianist Jutta Hipp (1925-2003) was enticed to travel to New York in 1955 by jazz writer/historian Leonard Feather. She was signed by Alfred Lion to Blue Note Records where she very quickly--within an eight month period--recorded three albums for the label: At the Hickory House, Vol. 1 (1955); At the Hickory House, Vol. 2, and Jutta Hipp with Zoot Sims, a teaming with the tenor saxophonist which was her most successful album. Then it was over. Hipp ...

360
Album Review

Jutta Hipp with Zoot Sims: Jutta Hipp with Zoot Sims

Read "Jutta Hipp with Zoot Sims" reviewed by Chris M. Slawecki


Jutta Hipp proves one of the more curious tales in a music whose history is full of curiosities: She grew up studying jazz piano and painting in her native Germany, then moved to New York City in late 1955. She played piano in and around the city for about a year, including performances documented on two 1956 live albums released by Blue Note.

Jutta with Zoot was recorded later in '56 and produced by Blue Note founder Alfred ...

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1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jutta Hipp

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jutta Hipp

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Jutta Hipp's birthday today!

EARLY CAREER IN GERMANY She had been active as a professional pianist in her native Germany from 1946 on, was a member of the Hans Koller Quartet in the early 1950s and from 1954-55 led her own combo, The Jutta Hipp Quintet. Members of her Frankfurt/Main based band included Emil Mangelsdorff, Joki Freund, and, on occasion, guitarist Atilla Zoller. Hipp was able to claim the honor of having been the only ...

2

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jutta Hipp

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jutta Hipp

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Jutta Hipp's birthday today!

EARLY CAREER IN GERMANY She had been active as a professional pianist in her native Germany from 1946 on, was a member of the Hans Koller Quartet in the early 1950s and from 1954-55 led her own combo, The Jutta Hipp Quintet. Members of her Frankfurt/Main based band included Emil Mangelsdorff, Joki Freund, and, on occasion, guitarist Atilla Zoller. Hipp was able to claim the honor of having been the only ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jutta Hipp

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jutta Hipp

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Jutta Hipp's birthday today!

EARLY CAREER IN GERMANY She had been active as a professional pianist in her native Germany from 1946 on, was a member of the Hans Koller Quartet in the early 1950s and from 1954-55 led her own combo, The Jutta Hipp Quintet. Members of her Frankfurt/Main based band included Emil Mangelsdorff, Joki Freund, and, on occasion, guitarist Atilla Zoller. Hipp was able to claim the honor of having been the only ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jutta Hipp

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jutta Hipp

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Jutta Hipp's birthday today!

EARLY CAREER IN GERMANY She had been active as a professional pianist in her native Germany from 1946 on, was a member of the Hans Koller Quartet in the early 1950s and from 1954-55 led her own combo, The Jutta Hipp Quintet. Members of her Frankfurt/Main based band included Emil Mangelsdorff, Joki Freund, and, on occasion, guitarist Atilla Zoller. Hipp was able to claim the honor of having been the only ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jutta Hipp

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jutta Hipp

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Jutta Hipp's birthday today!

EARLY CAREER IN GERMANY She had been active as a professional pianist in her native Germany from 1946 on, was a member of the Hans Koller Quartet in the early 1950s and from 1954-55 led her own combo, The Jutta Hipp Quintet. Members of her Frankfurt/Main based band included Emil Mangelsdorff, Joki Freund, and, on occasion, guitarist Atilla Zoller... Read more.

Place our Musician of the Day widget on your website ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jutta Hipp

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jutta Hipp

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Jutta Hipp's birthday today!

EARLY CAREER IN GERMANY She had been active as a professional pianist in her native Germany from 1946 on, was a member of the Hans Koller Quartet in the early 1950s and from 1954-55 led her own combo, The Jutta Hipp Quintet. Members of her Frankfurt/Main based band included Emil Mangelsdorff, Joki Freund, and, on occasion, guitarist Atilla Zoller... Read more.

Place our Musician of the Day widget on your website ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jutta Hipp

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jutta Hipp

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Jutta Hipp's birthday today!

EARLY CAREER IN GERMANY She had been active as a professional pianist in her native Germany from 1946 on, was a member of the Hans Koller Quartet in the early 1950s and from 1954-55 led her own combo, The Jutta Hipp Quintet. Members of her Frankfurt/Main based band included Emil Mangelsdorff, Joki Freund, and, on occasion, guitarist Atilla Zoller... Read more.

Place our Musician of the Day widget on your website ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jutta Hipp

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jutta Hipp

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Jutta Hipp's birthday today!

EARLY CAREER IN GERMANY She had been active as a professional pianist in her native Germany from 1946 on, was a member of the Hans Koller Quartet in the early 1950s and from 1954-55 led her own combo, The Jutta Hipp Quintet. Members of her Frankfurt/Main based band included Emil Mangelsdorff, Joki Freund, and, on occasion, guitarist Atilla Zoller... Read more.

Place our Musician of the Day widget on your website ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jutta Hipp

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jutta Hipp

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Jutta Hipp's birthday today! EARLY CAREER IN GERMANY She had been active as a professional pianist in her native Germany from 1946 on, was a member of the Hans Koller Quartet in the early 1950s and from 1954-55 led her own combo, The Jutta Hipp Quintet. Members of her Frankfurt/Main based band included Emil Mangelsdorff, Joki Freund, and, on occasion, guitarist Atilla Zoller... Read more. Place our Musician of the Day widget on your website ...

1

Interview

Jutta Hipp: The Inside Story

Jutta Hipp: The Inside Story

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

Last week I posted on German pianist Jutta Hipp, who recorded in the 1950s before disappearing from the jazz scene. I also mentioned that Katja von Schuttenbach—a jazz historian and journalist —had researched and written about Hipp. I sent Katja a handful of questions and she kindly responded. Here's our e-conversation: JazzWax: Jutta Hipp seems like a tragic figure—in part a victim of her own issues. Do we know what she went through as a teen living under Nazi rule? ...

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