Blue Note Records
2004
Ready For Freddie
About This Album
Recorded in 1962, Ready for Freddie is one of the finest moments on record for the young Freddie Hubbard. Just 24 at the time of the session, Hubbard shows an incredible confidence as a leader with a hotshot group of players: Wayne Shorter, Elvin Jones, McCoy Tyner, and Detroit's Bernard McKinney on euphonium. With a solid hard bop framework, some of Hubbard's later funkiness enters into his playing and charts on "Crisis," and his beautiful, elongated lines are showcased on "Arietis." Along with the Hubbard tunes, Shorter contributes his beautiful "Marie Antoinette" to the session, and the gorgeous group playing on "Weaver of Dreams" was a high point for the label during that calendar year. But the real dazzler is the flying tempo of Hubbard's "Birdlike." His and Shorter's solos are as dizzying as they are complex. The 2004 Rudy Van Gelder edition is remastered, of course, and contains the same two tracks that were on the Japanese version: alternates of "Arietis" and "Marie Antoinette." This is a great Hubbard date and should not be missed by anyone interested in his work for Blue Note or in hard bop in general. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide
Track List (try tracks 1 and 5)

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