Freddie Hubbard – trumpet/flugel
Richard Wyands – piano
Herbie Hancock – Fender Rhodes
George Benson, Eric Gale – guitar
Ron Carter – bass
Jack DeJohnette – drums
Airto Moreira – percussion
When he signed for CTI in 1971 Freddie Hubbard
made the transition from well known jazz musician to well known
celebrity, when this album was released. The first 7 tracks
come from the original album and the last from a live performance
with Hancock and Gale replacing Wyands and Benson, it was recorded
in 1973.
As with a number of the CTI albums, Don Sebesky,
the arranging ace, had been hired to as the sleeve note says
add some ornamentations!
Hubbard is in great form as is George Benson
on guitar, the opening track is Hubbard’s composition First
Light, he plays some great trumpet, but personally I found this
track a bit overlong. Moment to Moment is a fine tune written
by Henry Mancini and he makes a good job of the theme statement
and follows it up with some great improvisations. Yesterday’s
Dreams, was written by the record’s arranger Don Sebesky, It
has a haunting melody and suits both Hubbards playing and the
mood of the session. I don’t know who made the programme selection,
but things do start to feel a bit mournful with three slow tunes
one after the other on tracks 3,4 &5.
How Cedar Walton’s Fantasy in D came to be
left off the original album I can’t think, everyone swings and
the gloomy atmosphere I referred to earlier disappears completely
and Freddie Hubbard produces his finest work on the album!
I did not need convincing that Freddie Hubbard
was a genius, I knew that already, but I found this album like
the curate’s egg good in parts. My view is that it was due mainly
to programme selection, but as Miles had many successful albums
with mournful themes, what do I know?
Don Mather
CD Reviews
CTI
5127902
