Artist: Freddie Hubbard
Label: Blue Note
SKU: B003436201
Barcode: 602438568383
Genre: Audiophile Jazz
No of Discs: 1 Disc
Release: 05/05/2023

The prodigious trumpeter Freddie Hubbard debuted on Blue Note in 1960 and produced an astounding run of recordings over the first half of the decade that culminated with Blue Spirits, which was the last of his 1960s studio albums for the label. This bluesy and spirited album presented five evocative Hubbard originals, each of which was given a richly textured arrangement for an ensemble that included a dynamic four-horn lineup. Drawn from two different sessions, the first date produced the gratifying opening track “Soul Surge” and the percolating “Cunga Black” with Hubbard joined by James Spaulding on alto saxophone and flute, Joe Henderson on tenor saxophone, Kiane Zawadi on euphonium, Harold Mabern on piano, Larry Ridley on bass, Clifford Jarvis on drums, and Big Black on congas. A week later Hubbard returned to Van Gelder Studio with Spaulding, Zawadi, and a slightly different lineup including Hank Mobley on tenor saxophone, McCoy Tyner on piano, Bob Cranshaw on bass, and Pete LaRoca on drums. This second session rounded out the album with hard-charging performances of “Outer Forces” and “Jodo,” as well as the mesmerizing title track.

180gram Vinyl LP
Tone Poet Audiophile Vinyl Reissue Series
Mastered by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio
Mastered from the Original Analog Tapes
Deluxe Tip-On Jacket
A1 Soul Surge
A2 Blue Spirits
B1 Outer Forces
B2 Cunga Black
B3 Jodo