Breaking Point [Extra tracks, Original recording remastered]

Freddie Hubbard | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 29, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks, Original recording remastered
• Label: Blue Note Records
• ASIN: B0002A2VMI
• In-Print Editions: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #92,449 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Breaking Point was the debut of Freddie Hubbard's first working group after leaving the Jazz Messengers. The quintet is highlighted by the searing alto sax and rich flute of James Spaulding and powerful, musical drumming of Joe Chambers, who also composed "Mirrors". The music stretches the limits of hard bop with innovative, cutting edge compositions and solos. Added to the original album are two alternate takes, originally issued on a 45 single.

FREDDIE HUBBARD, trumpet; JAMES SPAULDING, alto sax, flute; RONNIE MATHEWS, piano; EDDIE KHAN, bass; JOE CHAMBERS, drums

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brake for "Breaking Point", June 30, 2004

By 

Michael B. Richman (Portland, Maine USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Breaking Point (Audio CD)

After a brief absence in the Blue Note catalog, it is wonderful to see Freddie Hubbard's "Breaking Point" reissued via the RVG series. Though I have to confess, it would have been nicer so see rarer OOP titles like "Here to Stay" or "Blue Spirits" back in print instead. In fact, "Breaking Point" is the studio album Freddie made in between those two aforementioned titles. This May 7, 1964 session features Hub on trumpet, James Spaulding on alto sax and flute, Ronnie Matthews on piano, Eddie Kahn on bass and Joe Chambers on drums. The four Hubbard original compositions show the trumpeter moving away from his straightforward Messenger grooves to more of an avant-garde/free form style. With that being said, the album's wildest track is the Chambers-penned "Mirrors." The drummer (BTW, making his Blue Note debut here) was an amazing writer and IMO should have been given his own Blue Note session as a leader, though many will argue the second-half of Bobby Hutcherson's "Components" is basically just that. Finally, the disc's two alternate takes are shorter versions of "Blue Frenzy" and "Mirrors," which were paired for 45 single release back in the day. While not Freddie Hubbard's finest session, "Breaking Point" is certainly worth braking for.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hubbard at hard bop/modal best, September 23, 2008

By 

Dennis W. Wong - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Breaking Point (Audio CD)

Freddie Hubbard had some of his peak years at Blue Note where he made some excellent albums like "Ready for Freddie", "Hub-tones", "Blue Spirits" and this ringer, the first for his own group featuring a promising drummer, Joe Chambers, who would make his name as a composer also. His Indiana cohort, the under-rated James Spaulding, is on hand to provide Hub the push on tunes like "D-minor Mint", Chambers' classic ballad, "Mirrors", and the title tune, a study in modality plus tinges of Latin/Caribbean soul. This is the same group I saw in San Francisco at the now defunct Both/And and it cooked then--and it does on this record. Though his chops are practically gone nowadays, one should relish this great classic album as one of Hubbards finest, if not the finest!!

7 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars consider getting this, December 2, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Breaking Point (Audio CD)

All I need to say is it deserves a 5 star average. And if your a Hub fan you should consider getting this. Really.