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

A enigma if there ever was one, Jutta Hipp’s sparse recording history comes to light with this anthologic look at her jazz beginnings in Germany. Not long before her explosion onto the New York jazz scene in 1955, Hipp was just coming into her own within German jazz circles, as this collection exemplifies. From a historical perspective, this collection is a must-have.

For most, her noted output spans only two full-length releases from Blue Note, which are quite rare and very expensive (if you desire the original vinyl releases). It’s also hard to say if she recorded more before leaving music in 1958 to be unearthed at a future time, but it’s safe to say nothing will ever turn up after that year. When she left the business, she left it for good. Thanks to the Jazz Haus label out of Germany, there’s quality material resurfacing on Jutta Hipp for all to enjoy without battling for top bid on various auction sites the Internet offers.