Saturday, March 28, 2015

Freddie Hubbard - High Energy (1974) [vinyl>flac]

One of Freddie Hubbard's few decent efforts during his very commercial period with Columbia, this LP found his quintet (with tenor-saxophonist Junior Cook and keyboardist George Cables) joined by a small orchestra and a string section on a set of potentially dismal material. Fortunately these six performances (particularly "Crisis," "Ebony Moonbeams" and Stevie Wonder's "Too High") are given fairly creative treatment. The leader/trumpeter is in good form and there is solo space given to Ernie Watts (on bass flute, soprano and flute) and tenorman Pete Christlieb in addition to the quintet members. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide.

Columbia Records, KC 33048, 1974
Recorded 29th April-2nd May, 1974 Live at Sunset Sound Recorders, Hollywood, California

Personnel:
Freddie Hubbard - Trumpet, Flugelhorn
George Bohanon - Trombone
Dick Hyde - Trombone (#B1)
Ernie Watts - Tenor Sax, Bass Flute (#A1), Soprano Sax (#B2), Flute (#B3)
Junior Cook - Tenor Saxophone (#B3), Flute
Pete Christleib - Bass Clarinet (#B2), Tenor Sax (#B3)
George Cables - Electric Piano
Ian Underwood - Synthesizer [Arp]
Joe Sample - Clavinet, Organ
Dean Parks - Guitar
Kent Brinkley - Bass
Ralph Penland - Drums
Harvey Mason - Drums (#A2,B1)
Victor Feldman - Percussion
Carmello Garcia - Timbales
King Errisson - Congas
Jules Chaikin - Contractor [Strings]

Track Listing:
A1. Camel Rise {George Cables} (6:22)
A2. Black Maybe {Stevie Wonder} (4:54)
A3. Baraka Sasa {Freddie Hubbard} (10:26)
B1. Crisis {Freddie Hubbard} (5:42)
B2. Ebony Moonbeams {George Cables} (6:59)
B3. Too High {Stevie Wonder} (6:36)

Credits:
Producer - Paul A. Rothchild
Producer [Assistant] - Mike Levy
Engineer [Recording and Mixing] - Jack Haeny
Engineer [Assistant] - Kent Nebergall
Conductor, Arranger - Dale Oehler
Artwork [Hand-Lettering] - Andy Engel
Design [Cover] - Anne Garner, Ron Coro
Photography - Fred Valentine

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