This CD, Freddie Hubbard's last Blue Note release of the 1960s (with the exception of the blowing session The Night of the Cookers), adds two numbers to the original LP program and features the great trumpeter in three challenging settings ranging from a sextet to an octet.
Hubbard uses such sidemen as altoist
James Spaulding, tenors
Joe Henderson and Hank Mobley, the euphonium of
Kiane Zawadi, pianists
Harold Mabern,
McCoy Tyner and
Herbie Hancock, bassists
Larry Ridley,
Bob Cranshaw and
Reggie Workman, drummers
Clifford Jarvis,
Pete La Roca and
Elvin Jones, the congas of
Big Black and on one song bassoonist Hosea Taylor. The set is comprised of seven diverse
Hubbard originals and, even though none of the songs caught on to become standards, the music is quite challenging and fairly memorable. ~ Scott Yanow