Saturday, March 22, 2014

Freddie Hubbard (w Art Pepper) - Mistral (1980) [vinyl>flac]

New link in comments.

Review at Sound Insights:
Recorded for the Japanese label East World (and later issued in the US by Liberty, an EMI label hardly known for issuing jazz), there is a slick West Coast feeling to this album that's as endearing as it is enjoyable. Perhaps it is the addition of legendary West Coast alto saxist Art Pepper into a mix that finds pianist George Cables, bassist Stanley Clarke and drummer Peter Erskine in the rhythm section. All the tunes have a relaxed, laid-back feeling (what Scott Yanow snidely refers to as "no one sounds like they're sweating"), even on the up-tempo "Bring It Back Home." While there is a casual air of familiarity in the program, all involved sound as if they are enjoying themselves and each other's company.
Hubbard has never sounded better. His playing is confident, definitive, nearly poetic, and his engagements aren't limited merely to Pepper, who seems to be just another guy in the band here. Hubbard is musically caressed by the pianist, his old comrade George Cables, but is more notably poked, prodded and provoked by bassist Stanley Clarke, who is simply outstanding here, doing things throughout that are worth paying attention to.

1. Sunshine Lady - 7:18
2. Eclipse - 7:08
3. Blue Nights - 7:17
4. Now I've Found Love - 6:53
5. I Love You - 7:27
6. Bring It Back Home - 7:55

Freddie Hubbard (t,flh) Phil Ranelin (tb) Art Pepper (as) George Cables (p,el-p) Peter Wolf (synth) Roland Bautista (g) Stanley Clarke (b,el-b) Peter Erskine (d) Paulinho da Costa (pc)
Ocean Way Recording, Hollywood, CA. September 15, 17, 18 and 19, 1980

15 comments:

  1. Grumpy,

    Thanks for the Freddie Hubbard/Art Pepper post.

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  2. Well, I haven't heard it yet but I love Freddie. Even when he was uninspired or being lazy there was still something about the sound that always intrigues.

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  3. Great stuff, didn't have it, never heard of it to be honest. Thanks !!!

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  4. http://1ygju8xx8p.1fichier.com/

    vinyl>flac + scans

    A comment is always appreciated.

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  5. Caramba, did not have this one. Thank U!

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  6. This a surprise..a Freddie Hubbard AND an Art Pepper recording that I've never heard of. Thanks for sharing this rarity, Grumpy!

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  7. Another item I missed the first time around. A very enjoyable jazz obscurity. Thanks Grumpy.

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  8. Never saw this before!! Thank you, thank you.

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  9. I agree with Yanow. Has a more commercial feel than anything else Freddie Hubbard. Does not mean it is bad, just different. I would not have guessed this is FH if this was played on the Down Beat blindfold test.

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  10. Hey Grumpy . . . Thanks for this listen . . . had no idea this existed. Stanley on bass gets my attention. Freddie was a beast!

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  11. Thanks for this, can't think how I missed it !!!
    Most appreciated.

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  12. For some reason I never paid much attention to what Hub was doing back in the day, but I'm catching up now...Thank you!

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