Artist: Freddie Hubbard Album: The Hub of Hubbard

Year: 1969
Duration: 0:0-1

The Hub of Hubbard - A Critical Review of the Freddie Hubbard Album

Freddie Hubbard is an American jazz trumpeter who had an illustrious career that spanned several decades. As a master of bebop, hard bop, and post-bop, he influenced generations of musicians. His 1970 album, The Hub of Hubbard is considered to be one of his best works. In this blog post, we’ll take a deep dive into the album, its genre, its best songs, and the most innovative parts. We’ll also critique this masterpiece.

The Hub of Hubbard is a fusion of various music genres, particularly jazz and funk. The album was released in 1970, the peak of the jazz-funk era, which means it has all the elements of both genres. The album's music achieves a fantastic and almost combative fusion as it blends free jazz, blues, and soul, making it stand out from other jazz albums of its time.

The best songs on the album are the title track, “The Hub of Hubbard,” and “Lament for Booker,” which have stunning horn arrangements and feature some of the finest solos in the album. “The Hub of Hubbard” is a funk instrumental that highlights Hubbard's trumpet mastery, and the catchy melody, backed by a fierce rhythm section, will immediately catch your attention. “Lament for Booker” is a bluesy ballad dedicated to pianist Booker Little. It starts with a sorrowful melody and mournful trumpet before picking up the pace and becoming a lively jazz tune.

The most innovative part of the album is its blend of odd time signatures, unconventional harmonies, and free jazz improvisation. Tracks like “Outer Forces” and “Ebony Moonbeams” showcase Hubbard's dedication to experimentation and boundary-pushing. The music on the album is straightforward to listen to but also complex enough to satisfy jazz fans.

While The Hub of Hubbard is generally well-regarded for its musicianship, there are a few criticisms to be made. The album's sound mix can be a bit off, with some instruments overwhelming others on occasion. Also, Hubbard's use of wah-wah and other effects can become grating at times. But those negatives are only small quibbles compared to the large number of positives present on the album.

The Hub of Hubbard by Freddie Hubbard is an album that showcases the best of jazz and funk while pushing the envelope further. The album features some of Hubbard's finest solos and horn arrangements. The album's music achieves the perfect balance between free jazz experimentation, blues, and soul. Although The Hub of Hubbard has its flaws, it remains an essential listen for anyone interested in jazz music. Freddie Hubbard is evidence that even decades after his death, his music still holds up and continues to inspire.