Ready for Freddie [Extra tracks, Original recording remastered]

Freddie Hubbard | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 9, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks, Original recording remastered
• Label: Blue Note Records
• ASIN: B0001GWAL0
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #18,206 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hubbard's Finest Blue Note, March 9, 2004

By 

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

I have written several glowing reviews of trumpeter Freddie Hubbard's Blue Note recordings -- "Open Sesame," "Goin' Up," "Hub Cap," and "Hub-Tones" -- but "Ready for Freddie" is his finest album for the label. Originally released on CD in the limited edition Connoisseur series, it makes a permanent return to the catalog now in the RVG series. Recorded on August 21, 1961, this session features Wayne Shorter on tenor sax, Bernard McKinney on euphonium (!), McCoy Tyner on piano, Art Davis on bass and Elvin Jones on drums. What primarily distinguishes this set from earlier efforts is the maturity of Hubbard's original statements, both in terms of his playing style and his compositions. His already overflowing talent was even further developed during this period in his career, as he concurrently played and recorded on his own and with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. In fact, this album's closing track "Crisis" was reprised on the Messengers' classic LP "Mosaic" just six weeks later. The other defining elements for me are the contributions and propulsive play of McCoy and Elvin, who were already thoroughly ensconced in the their classic period with John Coltrane, and the unique sound of Bernard McKinney's euphonium, which adds a deep, melodious baritone to the proceedings. In all, get "Ready" to purchase Freddie Hubbard's best disc.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Are You "Ready?", May 8, 2005

By 

The Groove (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ready for Freddie (Audio CD)

If you're not a fan of Freddie Hubbard, pick up "Ready for Freddie" and it will likely turn you into one. Armed with skilled players such as Wayne Shorter on sax, Bernard McKinney on euphonium, Elvin Jones on drums and McCoy Tyner on piano, Hubbard's 1961 release (recorded when he was barely in his twenties!) flirts with brilliance and drips with class from track to track. The opener, "Arietis," is classic Hubbard in great form, and he's well complimented by Jones' brisk drumming and Davis's bass. Other standouts include "Marie Antoinette," which has Hubbard and Shorter holding their own respectably, while "Crisis" shows great interplay between all members, with Jones and Davis making particularly strong impressions. Like all jazz greats, Hubbard is careful not to hog the spotlight and gives each musician his moment to shine. "Ready For Freddie" has been digitally remastered on Blue Note by Rudy Van Gelder and features an alternative take of "Arietis" and "Marie Antoinette." It's a near-flawless effort that will find a welcome home in virtually any collection.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of those sessions, March 20, 2006

By 

nadav haber (jerusalem Israel) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ready for Freddie (Audio CD)

Everyone who knows Hubbard, Shorter, Tyner, Jones and Art Davis knows that whenever these guys met - great music was sure to follow. Still, this specific set from November 30th, 1962 has an added spark, an energy that is even higher than expected. The rhythm section is John Coltrane's (Art David played with Trane before Jimmy Garrison) and Shorter is from the great Miles Davis group. In my opinion - the combination of musicians from those two very different groups always produces spectacular results (see Speak No Evil - Shorter-Carter + Tyner-Jones ! and Hubbard too).
Hubbard himself was definitely one of the leading trumpet man of the Sixties - participating in Out To Lunch, Empyrean Isles, as well as his own Open Sesame, Breaking Point, Hub Tones).
On this session every second COOKS ! It may have been the Euphonium of Bernard McKinney who pushed everyone to give something extra, or just a great feeling they all had entering the studio together, taking refuge from the outside world which, in 1962, was not an easy place for these great people.
Just the cd to get - if you are looking for great energy, beautiful compositions, and solos by Shorter and Hubbard who are at their peak !