Customer Reviews
Blazing Hubbard - By: David Johnson, 24 Nov 2006 
A stunning showcase of Hubbard's talents. For someone so young this serves as an excellent taste of what he was to become. His ranging, harmonic & sometimes downright belligerant style has always entranced me. For me this is his greatest record as a leader, the younster setting out to show eveyone what he has to offer. This record is littered with those characteristic barnstorming solos & his ability of more subtle playing on,"But Beautiful." There's a bit of everything on this from the skipping, jumpy, Horace Silveresque,"Gypsy Blue," to the classy sophisticated,"One mint Julep." Tina Brook's title track really swings. Brook's career disappeared into nothing beacause of his heroin addiction, this record shows what a wasted talent he was both as a great sax player & composer. "Open Sesame," is also notable for the presence of a youthful Mycoy Tyner, who helps make everything tick along nicely although it is band leader Hubbard who steals the show.
How about this for a debut! - By: A. D. Lewis, 21 Sep 2002 Freddie Hubbard's first date as leader, & what a way to announce your arrival!! This is one of THE classic Blue Note recordings. Freddie is inventive, alreadyin complete command of his horn, & playing memorable, satisfying, meaty themes. There's not a dull moment on the whole album & the RVG remastering is a total success. And whatever happened to Tina Brooks ? On this showing he must be one of the unsung heroes of jazz tenor. His playing here is superb, & he contributes two marvellous compositions... GYPSY BLUE is a gorgeous theme that Horace Silver would have been proud of. I know BLUE NOTE were busy with Mobley, Shorter, Dexter, & Turrentine, but it seems a shame that we have so little of Mr Brooks to savour. But we do have this very special, very satisfying slice of BLUE NOTE to savour, & it's worth every penny!!
