Freddie Hubbard – Hub Cap (1961) Review | Hubbard’s Hard Bop Hub Cap

Kronomyth 3.0: The cap’n goes down with the ship.

Freddie Hubbard was one of the most exciting young trumpet players (if not the most exciting) on the jazz scene. His rapid-fire delivery, endlessly creative soloing and aggressive (at times, atonal) style marked him as an exceptional talent, even earning him the praise of the silent man himself, Miles Davis. And yet, and yet, and yet… as a bandleader, Hubbard still had much to prove. The same could be said for his abilities as a songwriter, which are showcased here for the first time in four original songs. The opening Hub Cap (Hubbard’s adopted nickname) illustrates the problem: only Hubbard and pianist Cedar Walton (his then-bandmate in Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers) seem to understand the assignment. Jimmy Heath and Julian Priester never find the elusive melody in their solos, Philly Joe Jones is reading off a completely different script (as he often does), and Larry Ridley is so undermiked it doesn’t matter what he plays. Cry Me Not gives the rest of the band more space to find their voice, and Hubbard’s solos push the edge in an interesting way, making it arguably the album’s most successful venture. Luana loses its way in the middle but is otherwise good, Osie Mae is even better and features some great playing from Walton. Plexus, written by Walton, highlights the importance of writing melodies that the rest of the band can build on. An alternate take, featuring completely different solos by Hubbard, provides proof of how wildly inventive Hubbard was at this stage in his career. The closing Earmon Jr. is perhaps Hubbard’s most accommodating composition, featuring a nice solo from Heath. Again, my jazz reviews should be taken with a shaker of salt. Better minds than mine have concluded that Hub Cap is a four-star (out of five) affair, although I wonder sometimes if even jazz critics aren’t so intimidated by the medium and musical proficiency of the players that they don’t see the forest for the trees.

The Product

A1. Hub Cap (Freddie Hubbard) (5:14)
A2. Cry Me Not (Randy Weston) (4:45)
A3. Luana (Freddie Hubbard) (10:03)
B1. Osie Mae (Freddie Hubbard) (6:52)
B2. Plexus (Cedar Walton) (9:01)
B3. Earmon Jr. (Freddie Hubbard) (6:16)

Expanded CD reissue bonus track
7. Plexus (alternate take)

The Players

Freddie Hubbard (trumpet), Jimmy Heath (tenor sax), Philly Joe Jones (drums), Julian Priester (trombone), Larry Ridley (bass), Cedar Walton (piano). Recording by Rudy Van Gelder.

The Plastic

Released on elpee in October 1961 in the US (Blue Note, BLP 4073).

1. Re-released on elpee in 1977 in Japan (Blue Note, BST 84073).
2. Re-issued on remastered elpee in 1984 in the US (Blue Note, BST 84073).
3. Re-released on elpee in April 1985 in Japan (Blue Note/Toshiba, BNJ-71053).
4. Re-issued on expanded compact disc in 1988 in the US (Blue Notes, 84073-2) with one bonus track.
5. Re-issued on compact disc in November 1992 in Japan (Blue Note/Toshiba, BN-4073).
6. Re-issued on compact disc on November 24, 1993 in Japan (Blue Note, TOCJ-4073).
7. Re-issued on 24-buit remastered compact disc on December 22, 1999 in Japan (Blue Note, TOCJ-9164).
8. Re-issued on expanded, remastered compact disc in 2003 in the US (Blue Note, 42302) with one bonus track.
9. Re-released on 24-bit remastered compact disc on April 21, 2010 in Japan (Blue Note, TOCJ-8674).
10. Re-issued on expanded, remastered super audio compact disc in 2011 in the US (Analogue Productions, CBNJ 84073 SA).