Customer Reviews

Essence All-Stars: Hub Art

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The previous reviewer was apparently laboring under the false assumption that this was a Freddie Hubbard session. Although the CD is packaged in way that could easily mislead, it is actually a loving and competently produced tribute to Freddie and his music by a group of his peers that came together for this one-off session under the collective title The Essence All-Stars.

Led by drummer and executive producer Lenny White, the group included such luminaries as Cedar Walton on piano and Ron Carter on bass. Hubbard's traditional trumpet role was performed by Marcus Belgrave, Eddie Henderson, and Wallace Roney. Saxophonist Javon Jackson completed the ensemble.

The fact that there are no real surprises here is more than compensated for by the straight ahead playing, chemistry, and obvious love and respect for Hubbard's music. Marcus Belgrave's sensitive interpretations of Little Sunflower and Pensativa are as enjoyable as Freddie's original recordings and add a new dimension to these Hubbard signature pieces. It is an album of great subtlety that tends to become more appreciated with repeated listening.

The CD is very Freddie Hubbard's own style, as one can tell from Crisis particularly. Personally, Crisis is one of my favorite songs of his, including Gibraltar and Red Clay. I was looking for a record with all three of those on it, but couldn't seem to find anything. At first I was disappointed but, listening to the other tracks, realised that this was worth getting. Hubbard's improvisation has had a remarkable amount of influence on many trumpet players I know, his phrasing starting off fairly short and relaxed, and building up to a higher pitch, like many jazz musicians, not necessarily trumpeters, of his era. My feeling is that Hubbard must have had a lot of fun making this record, since I was performing some of his music the other day at a jazz club. His rhythm section is sharp and awake - the most perfect thing for a horn player in jazz to hope for. I know that from experience - it's very frustrating if your rhythm section can't quite follow! Highly recommended CD!