Freddie Hubbard Cry Me Not

Here are assembled five classic albums from the narrow band of just a few years, an indication of the amazing prolific talents. There is Open Sesame, originally released in 1960; Goin' Up (1961); Hub Cap (1961); Ready for Freddie (1962); Hub-Tones (1963). The list of accompanying musicians is veritably Olympian - Herbie Hancock, Cedar Walton and McCoy Tyner on various pianos, Philly Joe Jones on drums, Hank Mobley on tenor sax, Paul Chambers on bass and so on.

This two-LP set, which was released in 1976 as part of United Artists' Blue Note reissue series, brought back trumpeter Freddie Hubbard's early album Hub Cap, a sextet session with tenor-saxophonist Jimmy Heath, trombonist Julian Priester, and pianist Cedar Walton. Although that session (comprised of four Hubbard compositions, one of Walton's songs, and Randy Weston's "Cry Me Not") is excellent, it is the full album of previously unreleased material from an all-star quintet that is of greatest interest. Hubbard teams up with fellow Jazz Messengers Wayne Shorter (on tenor), Walton, bassist Reggie Workman, and (in Blakey's spot) drummer Philly Joe Jones for some advanced hard bop. Highpoints include the fiery "Philly Mignon" and a strong version of "Body and Soul."

On Hub Cap, his third effort as a leader, Freddie Hubbard sticks to the tried-and-true hard bop formula, which is something of a mixed blessing. There's no question that much of this music is enjoyable, but it's not quite up to the standards of its two predecessors. Part of the problem is Hubbard's sextet, which features tenor saxophonist Jimmy Heath, trombonist Julian Priester, pianist Cedar Walton, bassist Larry Ridley, and drummer "Philly" Joe Jones. All of the musicians are talented, but only a few are inventive, and that becomes a problem, since it becomes clear that Hubbard is beginning to break free from his influences and develop his own style. In other words, he's capable of more adventurous music than this straight-ahead hard bop…

On Hub Cap, his third effort as a leader, Freddie Hubbard sticks to the tried-and-true hard bop formula, which is something of a mixed blessing. There's no question that much of this music is enjoyable, but it's not quite up to the standards of its two predecessors…

Randy Weston - Mosaic Select 4 (2003) {3CD Set, Mosaic MS-004 rec 1957-1963}
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© 1957-63, 2003 Mosaic Records / EMI Music | MS-004 / 72435 82413 2 7
Jazz / Hard Bop / Post Bop / Piano

The three CDs that make up the Randy Weston Mosaic Select package comprise the complete sessions from six different albums, one of which was previously unreleased. Weston has had a long and varied career, and one that has established him in the consummate realm of piano soloists with his idiosyncratic, inclusive style. His deep jazz roots were accompanied, almost from the beginning, by the influences of Afro-Caribbean folk and the music of Asia, which he encountered during his tenure with the U.S. armed forces.

Hank Mobley - The Complete Hank Mobley Blue Note Sessions 1963-1970 (2019) {8CD Box Set, Mosaic MD8-268}
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© 1963-70, 2019 Blue Note / Mosaic Records / UMG | MD8-268
Jazz / Hard Bop / Saxophone

An amazing run of music – some of our favorite albums ever recorded for the Blue Note label, and the legendary second chapter of the career of tenor genius Hank Mobley! Hank was already a hell of a tenor player when he came on the scene in the 50s – graced with this deeply soulful style that helped usher in a whole new generation of talents on the instrument – but during his final years at Blue Note, he really took off with amazing new ideas, unusual rhythms, mindblowing arrangements, and the kind of compositional skill she never showed at the start!