NEA Jazz Master and Grammy Award Winner, trumpeter FREDDIE HUBBARD (1938-2008) developed his own distinct sound and tone that influenced a new direction in modern jazz and bebop. He Played with John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, Wayne Shorter, Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers and Herbie Hancock, among many others. He is considered to be one of the most technically advanced trumpeters in jazz, and perhaps the most influential. Having recorded over 50 albums to great acclaim, Downbeat called Freddie Hubbard “the most powerful and prolific trumpeter in jazz.
Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, Freddie Hubbard started playing the trumpet at a young age. He was influenced by artists such as Clifford Brown, Fats Navarro, and Miles Davis. Hubbard’s prodigious talent led him to move to New York City in 1958, where he quickly gained recognition and began collaborating with some of the leading jazz musicians of the time. Throughout his career, Freddie Hubbard collaborated with an array of iconic jazz artists, such as John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, and Herbie Hancock.
Freddie Hubbard continued to perform and record well into the 1990s and early 2000s. However, his health began to decline, and after a heart attack in 2008, he passed away at the age of 70. Despite his untimely death, Hubbard’s impact on jazz music is everlasting.
Freddie Hubbard’s pioneering work as a trumpeter and composer helped shape the course of jazz history. His remarkable ability to traverse diverse styles, from hard bop to free jazz to fusion, has earned him a well-deserved place among the jazz greats. As we continue to appreciate and celebrate his contributions to the world of music, Freddie Hubbard’s legacy will undoubtedly stand the test of time.
If you haven’t had the chance to listen to Freddie Hubbard’s music, now is the perfect time to start. Listen now to “Freddie Hubbard: One of a Kind” on any streaming platform. This rare live concert performance was recorded in 1980 for international television. It features Billy Childs on piano and Larry Klein on bass. Also experience this amazing performance in DVD form and (coming soon) stream the video concert on demand on Arkadia Concerts.
Freddie Hubbard was one of the most important and influential jazz musicians of all time and his newest release from the Arkadia Records vault is a testament to his incredible talent and his ability to push the boundaries of jazz. If you haven’t had the chance to listen to his music, now is the time to start – you won’t be disappointed.
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