Freddie Hubbard - Blue Spirits (1967)

The album title would suggest that this album of Hubbard originals consists mostly of blues-based material. Not the case here, though, as this thing is thematically diverse, exploring a wide variety of styles. Another difference between this and other hard bop albums of the time is that Hubbard added a euphonium to the tonal pallet, making a total of five different wind instruments from four players in the group:

This album was Hubbard's last studio effort for Blue Note until returning to the label in the mid-1980's. While it doesn't quite rate up there with other Hubbard offerings such as Red Clay and Hub-Tones, it is still a quite enjoyable outing - the mix of styles and the complexity of the compositions hold one's interest.

Complete liner notes by Nat Hentoff.

Ratings/reviews:

• DownBeat (★★★★): "He's an original and extremely inventive improviser, with excellent technique and a wide range"
• CashBox: "Jazz aficionados should be eager to add this disk to their record collections"
• The Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz (1999): ★★★★
• The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide (1985): ★
• The Penguin Guide to Jazz (9th ed., 2008): ★★★

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks:

1. Soul Surge: a groovin' blues in seven. Great solo from Harold Mabern.
2. Blue Spirits: a lilting jazz waltz. Spaulding steals the show on flute. My favorite tune on the album.
3. Outer Forces: this straight-ahead hard bop tune, features Hubbard a bit more than the other tunes. I recognize this cut from somewhere but don't ask me where.
4. Cunga Black: bluesy Afro-Latin boogaloo. 
5. Jodo: according to the liner notes, the title is a Japanese word meaning "pure land" and Hubbard wrote the song while traveling in Japan. This bop tune does not have a Japanese flavor to it, however. While there's some energetic blowing here, this is my least favorite track of the five. 

Bonus tracks: This 2004 Rudy Van Gelder Edition adds two tracks from a 1966 session utilizing an almost entirely different group of backing musicians. They're certainly not bad - I particularly enjoy the work from Herbie Hancock and Elvin Jones - but neither really fits in with the original album. The second of the two, True Colors, is a trip complete with bassoon solo.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
Ride Like The Wind (1982)
Here To Stay (1976)/Hub-Tones (1963)