While listed in trumpeter
Freddie Hubbard's discography, listening reveals this to be more accurately a
Curtis Fuller and friends date. Beyond that, there is a conspicuous absence of information on these tracks from the 1960s. The liner notes only offer glib thumbnail bios of
Hubbard, trombonist Fuller, and reed player Yusef Lateef. The standard reference sources are equally silent on the origins of the session or sessions documented here. Lack of background aside, this is engaging, earthy hard bop. No fresh ground is broken, but there are good solos throughout and effective contributions from the uncredited rhythm section -- if it's not the Red Garland or Wynton Kelly trio, it's a group of that superior caliber. The three legendary horn players are only together on four tracks; two feature just Fuller and one just Fuller and
Hubbard. Next to the trombonist, the bulk of the solo work actually falls to the very capable pianist. Lateef's vibrato-rich flute on Fuller's prosaically titled "Flutie" is a highlight, as is his incisive tenor on an up-tempo take of
Cole Porter's " Do I Love You."
Hubbard is also in good form, but not as harmonically inventive as on his classic Blue Notes. As for Fuller, this is a solid date for the quintessential hard bop trombonist that showcases both his writing and his playing. His booming tone, though, sometimes gets the better of the microphone, resulting in occasional brittleness on the CD. ~ Jim Todd