There are two new-old Feddie Hubbard releases this month.
Breaking Point
The first is rereleased by Blue Note in their “Tone Poet” series, Freddie’s 1964 album “Breaking Point”.
The album was remastered in 2003/2004 for CD release and has also been released is Hidef files and MP3. The Tone Poet release contains the same five tracks as the original release, despite many early reviews claiming there were six. It’s released on 180 gram vinyl in a gatefold sleeve[1]Freddie Hubbard – Breaking Point (2022, 180g, Gatefold, Vinyl) – Discogs.
This is probably one of the best early Hubbard albums. Shortly after Hubbard left Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, the quintet was put together for the album. Alto Saxophone, Flute – James Spaulding; Bass – Eddie Khan; Drums – Joe Chambers; Piano – Ronnie Mathews; Trumpet – Freddie Hubbard. Includes some outstanding free-form Hubbard playing which goes through modal jazz to blues. The album ships 18th June[2]Freddie Hubbard – Breaking Point! (Blue Note Tone Poet Series) LP – Blue Note Records.
Catalog: Blue Note – B0033315-01
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo, 180g, Gatefold
Country: US
Released: Jun 18, 2022
Live At ORTF
After recording the third of his albums for CTI Records, Freddie Hubbard and his quintet set about touring to promote the album.
This is the first official release of this 1973 recording by recorded by the Office national de radiodiffusion télévision française, INA the French National TV Broadcaster[3]Studio 104: the room for all the music | House of Radio and Music (maisondelaradioetdelamusique.fr). It was a long set, featuring as far I was able to establish, just four tracks.
The original performance was on March 25th at Studio 104 Maison de l’ORTF, Paris, France. The tapes, both video and audio were released or leaked more than 20-years ago. I’ve had a reel-to-reel tape copy since late ’98. I was able to secure a copy of the video a couple of years ago on a DVD-R.
The concert was edited and broadcast as two shows, the first broadcast on August 14th, the second on October 23rd, 1973. Coincidentally, Hubbard was back in the Van Gelder Studio in New Jersey on October 23rd, recording his fourth and final CTI album, “Keep Your Soul Together”. The full context and details about this album, and a link to the video I created on youtube, see First Light Live – Creed Taylor Produced (ctproduced.com)
For details about Freddie’s Grammy winning album, First Light, featured as the final track on this double album, see On This Day: First Light – Creed Taylor Produced (ctproduced.com). What will be interesting to hear, once I get my hands on a copy of the double album set, is how much better it is than the video soundtrack I already created.
The four tracks on the double album are presented in the same order. It’s claimed they were remastered from the original recordings, and are released in cooperation with Duane Hubbard, Freddie’s son and CEO of Hubbard Music by French reissue label wewantsounds[4]http://www.wewantsounds.com/.
Catalog: WWSLP61
Format: 2 x LP (US $49.95)
Label: WeWantSounds
Release type: RSD Exclusive Release, 1500 copies only.
Release Date: 6/18/2022
Trumpet – Freddie Hubbard; Bass – Kent Brinkley; Drums – Michael Carvin; Electric Piano – George Cables; Tenor Saxophone, Flute – Junior Cook
Mark Jones on ukvibe.org has a review[5]Freddie Hubbard ‘Music is Here: Live at Maison de la Radio (ORTF) Paris 1973’ RSD 2LP (WeWantSounds) 4/5 | ukvibe
Let me know if you get either album, leave a comment or contact me and tell what you think. I’ll update this post if Doug at AbsoluteVinyl comes from with a copy of “Live from ORTF” for me.