Search - Freddie Hubbard :: Live at Keystone Korner

Very impressive!

Todd Ebert | Long Beach California | 02/09/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I discovered this gem at the same place I discovered Sun Ra's "Cosmic Tones for Mental Therapy" and Pat Metheny's "Letter from Home" (two of my favorite jazz recordings): namely the Santa Clara Public Library. This recording has Freddie Hubbard, Joe Henderson, and Bobby Hutcherson (all jazz legends) playing so well together and backed by the hard driving rhythm section of Larry Klein, Steve Houghton, and Billy Childs. It was recorded live at the Keystone Korner in San Francisco back in 1981, and must have been quite a memorable show for anyone who attended. I must say that this recording made me fans of all six musicians, especially Bobby Hutcherson and Freddie Hubbard, who at the time may have been the most technically proficient at their instruments (vibes and trumpet respectively). My favorite tracks include "Littlest One of All", the hard driving latin-tinged "Intrepid Fox", and the smooth "Sky Dive". "Birdlike" seems like an obvious tribute to Charlie Parker."

Worthy of Your Attention

Brian Berg | Chicago, IL | 01/13/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Like many Jazz fans, I have enjoyed many excellent recordings by Hubbard, Henderson, and Hutcherson, et al, as leaders and as sidemen including their more celebrated and well-known sessions on Blue Note, CTI, and Columbia, etc. However, I would have to say that this set, recorded live at the Keystone Korner in 1981, is my personal favorite. I first ran across this album by chance (a beat up library-copy vinyl in a local bargain bin) many years ago issued as A Little Night Music. In addition to the veteran musicianship you would expect from the players involved, their was a special energy that they captured in this particular performance that comes through remarkably well on this recording. As others have mentioned, this must have been a very memorable evening for anyone who was there that night! I find these versions of "Sky Dive" and "Intrepid Fox" particularly captivating. When the CD became available in the 90's, I was happy to find that the CD transfer was every bit as good as the LP and to be able to enjoy the tunes without pop, scratches, skips and without having to flip the record in the middle of Joe Henderson's solo on Sky Dive. There is a companion recording of the Friday and Saturday Night sets as well. While this one, in my opinion, is the better of the two, the other also has some excellent playing and makes for an enjoyable listening experience."