Straight Life [Limited Edition]

Freddie Hubbard | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 2, 1997)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Limited Edition
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B000002AGR
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #138,491 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Freddie Hubbard s Straight Life, which hit #5 on the Billboard jazz chart, was released between his signature hits Red Clay and First Light, but All Music Guide hails the album as arguably Hubbard s greatest recording ... frequently astounding ... essential for all serious jazz collections. Joining Hubbard are tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson, keyboardist Herbie Hancock, guitarist George Benson, bassist Ron Carter and drummer Jack DeJohnette. The very memorable set is rounded off by the trumpeter's duet with Benson on a lyrical version of the ballad Here's That Rainy Day. Freddie Hubbard was, I believe, the greatest jazz trumpet stylist of my generation,
Herbie Hancock has said. His influence is still being felt in the sound of many young trumpeters today. His warm tone and formidable technique will be considered marvels well into the future. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Swinging blowing session, May 19, 2000

By 

Tyler Smith (Denver, CO United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Straight Life (Audio CD)

Hubbard turned out a raft of forgettable records on the long-defunct CTI label, but "Straight Life" was a fine effort, an all-star session with a Latin-y feel that found all concerned in fine form.

The title cut is a 17-minute jam. Hubbard exploits the upper register throughout much of his solo, and Joe Henderson on tenor delivers a blistering attack that is one of the high points of the album. George Benson's guitar simmers things down to a bluesy boil and Herbie Hancock works out effectively on the electric piano, finding a Latin groove with percussionist Patato Valdez and the great drummer Jack DeJohnette.

"Mr. Clean" is another straight-ahead attack that allows Freddie to show off his chops. Henderson again gets off on tenor, with a hammering, almost percussive solo.

The album's mood relaxes with the finale, the standard "Here's That Rainy Day." Hubbard has never exhibited, for me, a great touch with ballads, and he fails to find the romance of the tune here. Henderson, unfortunately, lays out. Given his superb work on the sessions two burners, I found myself missing his sound on the ballad, a form with which he has always been very comfortable. On the plus side, Benson contributes some very tasteful comping on guitar.

"Straight Life" finds Hubbard poised at the edge of an unfortunate foray into sessions sweetened with strings, and even worse, tepid funk- and disco-flavored dates. Surrounded by longtime buddies (some of whom would unfortunately follow his subesequent path), he showed that when properly inspired, he could still blow the roof off.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars electrifying!, December 15, 2000

By 

thomas gabuzda (green lane, pa United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Straight Life (Audio CD)

Some jazz 'purists' love to bash this period in Freddie Hubbard's career. OK, its not his very finest... but are we going to consider everything after "Maiden Voyage", "Blues and the Abstract Truth" and assorted Art Blakey albums totally superfluous?? Well, perhaps the point could be made. Oh yeah, there's also some burning work with Dexter Gordon. But aesthetically, I take a different view... which is that the sessions for Red Clay and Straight Life, if not others, produced totally burning solo-work from Henderson, Hancock and Hubbard on most every track. I would further argue that Henderson was never better...at least on modal material. I seriously doubt he ever displayed more ferocity, endurance, and creative genius than here (true, he may have on live occasions). Any tenor enthusiast or player who doesn't give a close listen here (and on Red Clay) is making a mistake. The only disappointment is perhaps the tepid rendering of the ballad, and that there aren't more tracks to the session.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Slammin'..., February 24, 2006

By 

B. Bowman "Double B" (Jersey, United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Straight Life (Audio CD)

This is one of the most hard hitting jazz albums I've ever heard. The band assembled for "Straight Life" pretty much explains why: Joe Henderson on sax, George Benson on guitar, Herbie Hancock on piano/keyboards, Ron Carter on bass, and Jack DeJohnette on drums. (Weldon Irvine is even given credit for playing tambourine!) Almost everyone that plays on this album had recorded with Miles Davis at some time or another, and Freddie Hubbard ended up with a monster of an album in incorporating all that talent into one group. The seventeen minute title track is awesome; all the instrumentalists are in top form and turn in inspired solos. Joe Henderson in particular blew me away on this song. His solos are ridiculous here; I have some of his solo stuff and his playing on those discs doesn't compare to how he played on "Straight Life". George Benson also is a standout with his creative solo and occasional flurries of notes. Jack DeJohnette lays down a solid beat throughout. "Mr Clean" was written by Weldon Irvine (also worth checking out is Irvine's own version from the album "Liberated Brother", if you can find a copy) and continues the rapid fire soloing and mood of track one. Hubbard's playing throughout this song is fluid and fiery. "Here's That Rainy Day" slows things down but ends the album on a pleasant note. This was one of the first albums by Freddie Hubbard that I ever purchased and has remained one of my favorites. If you are a fan of jazz in any form I can't recommend this disc enough.