FREDDIE HUBBARD
The Black Angel
Koch Jazz
KOC CD 8538

Another excellent Koch reissue of Atlantic material in HDCD. All I need to tell you is it’s a fine outing in the fusiony vein, but with Hub, James Spaulding, Kenny Barron, Reggie Workman, Louis Hayes and Patato Valdes the personnel, nothing is superfluous; this is jazz, not pop. Hubbard arranged the pieces; I never knew he was so good at that, but then I remember his Sing Me A Song of Song My collaboration with Ilhan Mimaroglu. (Koch: Please reissue this pronto!) If you’re concerned, The Black Angel is worlds away from the CTI syrup he perpetrated. Of his post-60's Blue Note work, I most enjoy Hubbard's Topsy: Standard Book, a good 1989 mainstream session on Enja with Benny Green, Rufus Reid and Carl Allen.. www.kochentertainment.com

Steve Koenig

Track Listing: 1. Spacetrack; 2. Eclipse; 3. The Black Angel; 4. Gittin' Down; 5. Coral Keys

Personnel: Freddie Hubbard, trumpet; James Spaulding, alto sax, flute; Kenny Barron, piano and electric piano; Reggie Workman, bass; Louis Hayes, drums; Carlos "Patato" Valdes, conga, maracas