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Blue Note to Release 1969 Freddie Hubbard Concert

The April 2009 Downbeat features a cover story on the late trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, featuring reflections from numerous friends and musical colleagues such as James Spaulding, David Weiss, Cedar Walton, and David Baker. Near the end of the article writer Dan Ouellette mentions that Blue Note Records is preparing a springtime CD release of a 1969 Hubbard concert, titled Without a Song: Live in Europe 1969. Hubbard is backed on the date by pianist Roland Hanna, bassist Ron Carter, and drummer Louis Hayes. According to producer Michael Cuscuna, "Freddie was like a little kid" when he heard the music. "He was jumping up and down. He said this was some of his best playing captured on tape."

UPDATE: Over at Organissimo trumpeter and Hubbard collaborator David Weiss has filled in some of the details:

Just finished writing the liner notes to this last week....

Me and Freddie listened to this together numerous times last year and he picked all the tracks (and I'm pretty sure it's the order he wanted as well). It's killing stuff. The material is taken from three concerts that were recorded during this tour (Jazz Wave on tour with all the other groups mentioned above). Freddie also recorded Hub of Hubbard during this tour (Richard Davis and Eddie Daniels are borrowed from the Thad and Mel band, I guess Ron Carter didn't want to do it) and the Richard Davis record. Below are the credits. There is some more material but not much. He did 35 minute sets, three tunes a set.

Discographical details:

FREDDIE HUBBARD – WITHOUT A SONG

Live In Europe 1969

FREDDIE HUBBARD, trumpet; ROLAND HANNA, piano;

RON CARTER, bass; LOUIS HAYES, drums.

1. Without A Song – 11:05 (Eliscu-Rose-Youmans)

2. The Things We Did Last Summer 11:23 (S. Cahn-J. Styne)

3. A Night In Tunisia 10:36 (D. Gillespie-F. Paparelli)

4. Blues By Five 9:47 (Red Garland)

5. Body And Soul 10:08 (Green-Heyman-Sour)

6. Space Track 12:07 (Freddie Hubbard)

7. Hub-tones 4:38 (Freddie Hubbard)

Original recordings produced by Sonny Lester

Produced for release by Michael Cuscuna

Original remote recordings by Malcolm Addey

Tracks 2-4 recorded at Colston Hall, Bristol, England on December 14, 1969

Tracks 1 & 7 recorded at Royal Festival Hall, London, England on December 13, 1969

Track 5 & 6 recorded in Germany in early December 1969 and remixed at A & R Studios, New York City in 1970

Remixed and mastered using 24 bit technology by Malcolm Addey at the Malcolm Addey Studio, New York City in 2008.

"Body And Soul" was previously issued on Jazz Wave (Blue Note BST 89905) in 1970. All other selections are issued here for the first time.

(Photo of Freddie Hubbard by Mark Sheldon)

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