Freddie Hubbard (1938-2008)
Legendary trumpeter Freddie Hubbard died yesterday in the early morning from complications of a heart attack suffered on November 26. Hubbard became an immensely influential figure in jazz during his long career, which got a kick start in Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers in the ’60s. Here are some links to some fine obits and other […]
Legendary trumpeter Freddie Hubbard died yesterday in the early morning from complications of a heart attack suffered on November 26. Hubbard became an immensely influential figure in jazz during his long career, which got a kick start in Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers in the ’60s.
Here are some links to some fine obits and other posts around the web:
NPR All Things Considered and the New York Times both provide obituaries worth reading. Ethan Iverson gives 16 iconic Hubbard albums and other memories at Do The Math. Straight No Chaser briefly profiles the man and also looks back at others who passed in 2008. Jazz Wax features an in depth look at Hubbard’s career. Howard Mandel remembers Hubbard at Jazz Beyond Jazz.
[LATE ADDITIONS: Darcy James Argue gives a great obituary at Secret Society. Dave Douglas explains the mechanics of playing the trumpet and how Hubbard did it so well at Greenleaf Music.]
My picks of Freddie Hubbard recordings and solos: (linked tracks are available for listening at last.fm)
Yearnin’ – Oliver Nelson, The Blues and the Abstract Truth, Impulse!, 1961
Stolen Moments – Oliver Nelson, The Blues and the Abstract Truth, Impulse!, 1961
Caravan – Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers, Caravan, Riverside, 1962
The Core – Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers, Blue Note, 1964
Weaver of Dreams – Freddie Hubbard, Ready for Freddie, Blue Note, 1961
Birdlike – Freddie Hubbard, Ready for Freddie, Blue Note, 1961
Maiden Voyage – Herbie Hancock, Maiden Voyage, Blue Note, 1965
Speak No Evil – Wayne Shorter, Speak No Evil, Blue Note, 1965
Wild Flower – Wayne Shorter, Speak No Evil, Blue Note, 1965
Watermelon Man (Alt. Take) – Herbie Hancock, Takin’ Off, Blue Note, 1962
Aisha – John Coltrane, Ole Coltrane, Rhino/Atlantic, 1961
One Finger Snap – Herbie Hancock, Empyrean Isles, Blue Note, 1964
Cantaloupe Island – Herbie Hancock, Empyrean Isles, Blue Note, 1964
Gazzelloni – Eric Dolphy, Out To Lunch, Blue Note, 1964
Angola – Wayne Shorter, The Soothsayer, Blue Note, 1965
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Notice: Comments that are not conducive to an interesting and thoughtful conversation may be removed at the editor’s discretion.
Listening to the CTI headliner, SUNFLOWER, featuring some of Bags’ most arranged and produced music this evening on a run with the dog, I’d like to bring your attention to Hub’s playing on this date.
Something about it reminded me of the way Lee sounded on LAST SESSION, and in some strange way, probably mostly by association, LIVE AT THE LIGHTHOUSE. Not necessarily the players’ approach, but the way the trumpet was being recorded/mixed at the time.
Both of these dates were recorded years after the sessions you listed, which, finally, brings to mind some of Freddie Hubbard’s sharpest shit… VSOP. Even the reunion outing from a few years back should be considered by your readers. Freddie Hubbard was in good form well beyond 1965.
It wasn’t until the 2000s that Freddie Hubbard permanently fucked up his lip.
Absolutely, thanks for pointing this out. I am familiar with VSOP, but it seems Hubbard’s playing that draws me in the most is from the years on my list. With that said, I have some listening to do!
More sideman dates from the golden years then…
Outward Bound! (Eric Dolphy, 1960)*
Free Jazz (Ornette Coleman Double Quartet, 1960)
True Blue (Tina Brooks, 1960)
Africa/Brass (John Coltrane, 1961)
The Body & The Soul (Freddie Hubbard, 1963) **
Dialogue (Bobby Hutcherson, 1965)
Ascension (John Coltrane, 1965)
East Broadway Rundown (Sonny Rollins, 1966)
Easy to choose two of these as pivotal sessions in the same weight class as Out To Lunch!. Difficult to choose which two!
To record such a definitive Blue Note album as True Blue in the same year as Ornette's game-changing Free Jazz, as well as two wonderful hard-jazz leader dates to set the tone for the next few years of music at Blue Note… 1960 was such an amazing year for jazz music, and Freddie was ALL UP IN IT!
*Eric Dolphy's first leader date.
**I know… this is a leader date, but he is really the featured soloist in a program combining three sessions with a septet, which included Wayne Shorter, Curtis Fuller, AND Eric Dolphy as the remainder of the horn line. Three of the four horns played together as one of the most powerful Mssgrs horn lines back in the day, and the inclusion of Dolphy is just genius! The septet is backed by big band on a few tracks, and finally septet backed by big band/orchestra; all three playing Wayne Shorter's arrangements, which may certainly outshine the soloist at times… everything about it is brilliant, and full of class. The trumpet player was just 25.
Lots of great music out there! I'm blown away that all of these albums are over forty years old now.