Freddie Hubbard's 70th birthday bash@Catalina's 03.10.08
By George W. Harris

The club was filled to the rafters in anticipation of trumpet legend
Freddie Hubbard's return from an all too long exodus in celebration of
his 70th birthday. Famous for his status as the leading trumpeter of
the 60s and 70s, he was the star of many important records with Art
Blakey, John Coltrane and Herbie Hancock. Composer of such famous tunes
as " Little Sunflower", he had been out of the jazz scene since being sidelined
by an infected lip that had hindered his ability to blow his horn. On
Thursday night, supported by a top notch band that included longtime
associates James Spaulding (alto/flute), George Cables (piano) and
Slide Hampton (trombone), Hubbard, with flugelhorn in hand, went
through an evening of his compositions that gave truth to the Bible
verse that the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Opening the show without the birthday celebrity on stage, the band
wailed through a ragged version of Hubbard's "Birdlike" that was saved
only by Spaulding's coherent alto and Craig Handy's rust toned tenor.
With Hubbard on stage, the band immediately became more focused,
breezing through "Little Sunflower" and “Ariatis” with gentle ease. Hubbard, while
able to cheer the band on and set the appropriate tempo, was as visibly
frustrated by his weak tone as the audience, as he would stare in
disbelief at his horn after each solo. While weak in chops and
dynamics, he was still able to coax clever rhythms and gentle long
tones from his horn, eventually building up some power as the evening
went on. Spaulding's flute work throughout the evening was a stunning
highlight, and the entire ensemble, blowing together on the closing “Blue Spirits”
was a powerhouse of energy.

After the music, Hubbard was greeted with a birthday cake and was
showered with appreciation for all of his many contributions to the
jazz scene. It was an evening of bittersweet joy for all involved