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Freddie Hubbard

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Freddie Hubbard was an American jazz trumpeter, born in 1938 in Indianapolis. In the school band he tried all kinds of brass instruments, but the trumpet became his main instrument. As a teenager he was already playing with the brothers Wes and Monk Montgomery. In 1958 he moved to New York, where he was soon playing with Sonny Rollins, Eric Dolphy and Quincy Jones. In 1960 he made his first album of his own for Blue Note, Open Sesame.

Music and breakthrough

In 1961 he took Lee Morgan's place in drummer Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. There he played alongside Wayne Shorter, on albums such as Mosaic and Free for All. Hubbard had a powerful, clear tone and a blistering technique, and played mainly hard bop. Yet he had one foot in free jazz: he played on Ornette Coleman's Free Jazz and on John Coltrane's Ascension. He could also be heard on classics such as Herbie Hancock's Maiden Voyage and Shorter's Speak No Evil. In the 1960s he recorded eight albums under his own name for Blue Note.

Influence

In the 1970s he had his greatest success at the label CTI, with Red Clay (1970) and First Light (1971), which won a Grammy. Later he played with Hancock, Shorter, Ron Carter and Tony Williams in the group V.S.O.P. Hubbard died in 2008. His recognisable tone gave modern jazz new directions.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Arietis and notice Hubbard's trumpet: how fast and clear he plays, and how his solo grows steadily higher and fiercer. Hear too how the rhythm section holds the tempo tight.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

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See also

Categories: ArtistsHard bopFree jazzJazz-funk