Classic Recordings: 1960 – 1962

American Jazz Trumpeter, Frederick Dewayne Freddie Hubbard, born April 7th 1938, was known primarily for playing in the bebop, hard bop and post-bop styles from the early 1960s onwards. His unmistakable and influential tone contributed to new perspectives for modern jazz and bebop. In his teens Hubbard worked locally with brothers Wes and Monk Montgomery, and with bassist Larry Ridley and saxophonist James Spaulding. In 1958, at the age of 20, he moved to New York and began accompanying some of the best jazz players of the era, including Philly Joe Jones, Sonny Rollins, Eric Dolphy and Quincy Jones. In June 1960 Hubbard made his first record as a leader, Open Sesame, with saxophonist Tina Brooks, pianist McCoy Tyner, bassist Sam Jones, and drummer Clifford Jarvis. In December 1960, Hubbard was invited to appear on Ornette Coleman's Free Jazz after Coleman had heard him playing with Don Cherry. Then, in May 1961, Hubbard played on Olé Coltrane, John Coltrane's final recording session with Atlantic Records. Later, in August 1961, Hubbard made one of his most famous records, Ready for Freddie, which was also his first collaboration with saxophonist Wayne Shorter. Hubbard joined Shorter later in 1961 when he replaced Lee Morgan in Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. He played on several Blakey recordings, including Caravan, Ugetsu, Mosaic, and Free For All. Hubbard remained with Blakey until 1966, leaving to form the first of several small groups of his own. This 4 CD set collects together Freddie Hubbard's first 6 albums as leader, alongside 2 of his finest collaborations (with Oliver Nelson and Curtis Fuller), plus a bonus cut - the delicious 'Take Your Pick', from the classic Hank Mobley album Roll Call, which Hubbard featured on to quite startling effect. All cuts come from the era 1960 to 1962, when, although not at his best known or most celebrated, most would agree this titan of Jazz was certainly at his most creative, experimental and, crucially, satisfying.