Record Reviews

FREDDIE HUBBARD ~ THE HUB OF HUBBARD MPS 4029759113461 (Barcode: 4029759113461) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1969 Released: 2016 This is a reissue of an album by American trumpeter / composer Freddie HubbardFind albums by this artist, which was his first of two albums for MPSFind albums on this label and which was produced by the legendary Joachim BerendtFind albums by this artist. He is supported by saxophonist Eddie DanielsFind albums by this artist, pianist Roland HannaFind albums by this artist, bassist Richard DavisFind albums by this artist and drummer Louis HayesFind albums by this artist. The album presents one original composition by Hubbard and three standards. This album marks a transition period between Hubbard´s recordings for Blue NoteFind albums on this label and AtlanticFind albums on this label, which established him as one of the top American Bebop and Hard Bop trumpeters (and to a degree a Free Jazz pioneer), and his move to CTIFind albums on this label, which marked a slightly more commercial and Fusion oriented period. This album was recorded during an informal recording session, organized by Berendt during a break in Hubbard´s European tour and the relaxed and casual atmosphere dominates the proceedings. BTW the same session also produced another album: Richard Davis´s "Muses For Richard DavisFind albums with this title". The music is everything one might expect from the stellar lineup, i.e. superbly played mainstream American Jazz, which unfortunately introduces nothing new to the Jazz idiom per se and by the time it was recorded was already passé to some extent. Of course Hubbard and his cohorts pay their asses off and their virtuosity is hair-raising. Combined with the first-rate recording quality and the great remaster, this album is a superb example of Hard Bop at its best, full of exciting soloing and outstanding teamwork. Lovers of mainstream American Jazz should be perfectly happy with this release, which brings this album back into circulation (although it was already reissued on CD in 1988 and 2009, but long time gone from the market). Side Note The legendary German MPSFind albums on this label (Musik Produktion Schwarzwald) label, founded by Hans Georg Brunner-SchwerFind albums by this artist (HGBS) in 1963, first as SABAFind albums on this label Records and later on from 1968 as MPS Records, was the most important independent European record label, which had an enormous contribution to the development of European Jazz. For many years MPS cooperated with the legendary German producer / author Joachim BerendtFind albums by this artist, my Friend and Mentor, whose visionary approach and open-mindedness brought the crème de la crème of the Jazz (in the broadest meaning of the word) musicians from all over the world to the label. Between 1963 and 1983 MPS produced about five hundred albums, many of which are among the most important Jazz recordings on this planet. In 1983 the MPS catalog was sold to UniversalFind albums on this label, which sadly resulted in all those artistic treasures to almost disappear from the face of the earth – a situation not only tragic but culturally criminal. Universal reissued a part of the MPS albums (probably 128 titles) on CD between 1999 and 2011 under the "Most Perfect Sound Edition" moniker. Since 2008 the German Promising MusicFind albums on this label label released some of the MPS recordings, but at a very slow pace. In 2014 the German company Edel AG bought the MPS catalogue from Universal and released a series of 25 MPS albums on CD with a new slipcase graphic design, which brought all those excellent albums back to life. In 2015 Edel AG started to record and release new albums under the MPS moniker. In 2016 Edel AG released a series of 10 classic MPS albums on CD, which were beautifully remastered and re-packaged, presenting the original artwork and liner notes, as well as new liner notes and photographs. An obvious labor of love, these reissues are what the MPS catalogue truly deserves. This project was continued in 2017 with another series of 10 classic MPS albums released on CD. In later years some new reissues were released sporadically. Over the years many SABA / MPS albums were reissued in Japan, which is often the only available source for these albums today, but that is a story in itself.

Updated: 12/06/2018Posted: 03/12/2016

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