Freddie Hubbard – Blue Spirits: Blue Note Tone Poet Series (180g Vinyl LP)

All-Analog 180g Vinyl LP of Freddie Hubbard’s Blue Spirits Mastered from the Original Master Tapes by Kevin Gray & Pressed at RTI: Reference-Caliber Blue Note Reissue Helmed by Joe Harley

The prodigious trumpeter Freddie Hubbard debuted on Blue Note in 1960 and produced an astounding run of recordings over the first half of the decade that culminated with Blue Spirits, which was the last of his ’60s studio albums for the label. This bluesy and spirited album presented five evocative Hubbard originals, each of which was given a richly textured arrangement for an ensemble that included a dynamic four-horn line-up. Drawn from two different sessions, the first date produced the gratifying opening track “Soul Surge” and the percolating “Cunga Black” with Hubbard joined by James Spaulding on alto saxophone and flute, Joe Henderson on tenor saxophone, Kiane Zawadi on euphonium, Harold Mabern on piano, Larry Ridley on bass, Clifford Jarvis on drums, and Big Black on congas. A week later Hubbard returned to Van Gelder Studio with Spaulding, Zawadi, and a slightly different line-up including Hank Mobley on tenor saxophone, McCoy Tyner on piano, Bob Cranshaw on bass, and Pete LaRoca on drums. This second session rounded out the album with hard-charging performances of “Outer Forces” and “Jodo,” as well as the mesmerizing title track.

Musicians:
Freddie Hubbard, trumpet
James Spaulding, alto saxophone & flute
Joe Henderson / Hank Mobley, tenor saxophone
Kiane Zawadi, euphonium
Harold Mabern / McCoy Tyner, piano
Larry Ridley / Bob Cranshaw, bass
Clifford Jarvis / Pete LaRoca, drums
Big Black, congas

1. Soul Surge
2. Blue Spirits
3. Outer Forces
4. Cunga Black
5. Jodo