Customer Reviews

FREDDIE HUBBARD: One of a Kind

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1 star:		(1)

 

 

Originally filmed in 1980, the Ad Lib series presents concert television programs of the best jazz, pop, and blues music artists of the modern day. It also holds the distinction of being the first music television series recorded in stereo. A new DVD presents two episodes of this historic series with digitally mastered audio and video, and makes an excellent addition to DVD libraries that celebrate great performers. "Freddie Hubbard: One of a Kind" showcases renowned trumpet player Freddie Hubbard, playing songs such as "One of a Kind", "First Light", "There Is No Greater Love", and more. Bonus features include biographies, and an ad lib highlights reel. Highly recommended especially for jazz enthusiasts.

So the big deal is that this archival footage from 1980. The "Ad Lib" jazz show. They say on the package that this was the "first musical television show recorded in Stereo". Well, that is half true. This DVD is comprised of two shows from the Ad Lib series - Show #40 and Show #41. Only #40 is in stereo. #41 is a (bad) mono mix. So while the band is swingin', and the tunes are good, and Freddie is Freddie, the sound just ain't that good on the stereo version and plain stinks on the mono one. So, unless you are die hard gotta have it Freddie fan, I'd say pass on this disc. A very cursory "interview" is also included where Freddie introduces his band. Bonus features are a terribly produced "bio" of Freddie which is comprised of VERY slow liner notes rising up the screen a la credits, and advertisements for other discs in the series. How much did I pay for this?!? I think it's going back to Amazon....

-video quality: average
-sound quality: average
-personnel: freddie hubbard (t), billy childs (p), stephen houghton (d), buck clark (percussion), larry klein (b)
-uk 40 is bird like, a blues freddie wrote when he first went to nyc (the name is quite puzzling);
-uk 41 is unknown but is familiar; perhaps there were copyright problem
- group is not like the bird like with ron carter, mccoy tyner, elvin jones: one of freddie's greatest solos
it interesting to note how freddie has the unorthodox dizzy cheeks (puffed out) that he didn't have when younger
-this music is always better in person, but recordings are the only source left