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
Reggie Workman
, drummers
Clifford Jarvis
Pete La Roca
Elvin Jones
, the congas of
Big Black
and on one song bassoonist
Hosea Taylor
. The set is comprised of seven diverse
originals and, even though none of the songs caught on to become standards, the music is quite challenging and fairly memorable. ~ Scott Yanow