Track Listing

1. Arietis
2. Weaver Of Dreams
3. Marie Antoinette
4. Birdlike
5. Crisis
6. Arietis Alt. Take
7. Marie Antoinette Alt. Take

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5400 in Music
• Released on: 2004-03-09
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Extra tracks, Original recording remastered

Album Description
Personnel:

Freddie Hubbard: trumpet
Bernard McKinney: euphonium
Wayne Shorter: tenor sax
McCoy Tyner: piano
Art Davis: bass
Elvin Jones: drums

Tracks 6 and 7 bonus tracks, not part of original LP.

Recorded on August21, 1961 at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ

Customer Reviews

My Favorite of Freddie's
After hours upon hours of listening to all of his magnificent work, this 1961 Blue Note/RVG recording, is my personal favorite of anything he produced as a leader (with his 1960 debut "Open Sesame" and the CTI classic "Red Clay" tied for second place). Of course, his work on such classics as Herbie Hancock's "Empyrean Isles", and Hank Mobley's "Roll Call" are definitely right up there as well. Bottom line, this guy is simply one of the greatest trumpet players in jazz history and at the end of the day it's all subjective when it comes down to labeling which particular performance was his best. However, I think it's safe to say that "Ready for Freddie" is one of his finest works and very easily merits a five star rating.

Freddie had a really clean, dynamic, fleet and fervent style of playing, always colorful, almost always imaginative. His solo on "Birdlike" is something else and one of my favorite performances of his ever. I can imagine Charlie Parker smiling from above each time I hear it. Wayne Shorter's "Marie Antoinette" is also a favorite of mine, mainly because of its very soothing interplay between each member of the sextet. However, the whole recording is perfect to my ears, and it's almost a sacrilege for me to highlight one piece over another.

Along with Freddie and Wayne (who was really coming into his own at this time) you've got Coltrane's rhythm section of Art Davis (bass), Elvin Jones (drums) and McCoy Tyner (piano). Talk about a trio of cats that can play! In fact, I can honestly say that I have never heard Art Davis sound so perfect, and that's one bold statement I will stand firm by! Please let me know in the comment section if you disagree or think its hyperbole, but he just kills it in my humble opinion on this one. And perhaps the biggest surprise just might be Bernard McKinney (euphonium). He really gave to the group a softer, slightly smoother sound and aided in making this recording a truly distinctive and memorable treasure.

Aaaaaaaah the beauty and charm of jazz music never ceases to amaze me! This is gold folks.

Fantastic Record
I first heard Freddie Hubbard on Hank Mobley's Roll Call, which was one of my first jazz albums. I really liked his fiery tone and solos on that session, so when I saw this on the shelf, it was an easy choice. What an amazing album. "Arietis" is a great opener, with great choruses from Hubbard (trumpet), Wayne Shorter (tenor sax), McCoy Tyner (piano), and Bernard McKinney (euphonium). Elvin Jones and Art Davis round out the group on drums and bass respectively. One of the most enjoyable parts of this disc for me was the addition of the euphonium, which adds an interesting dimension to the session. It's a shame McKinney made so few Blue Note appearances.

All of the selections are great, but the piece "Crisis" made the whole purchase worthwhile. What a stunning piece of music. In the liner notes, it mentions that this song was composed to reflect the tension of the nuclear world and in my opinion, it succeeds. Without a single lyric, the piece conveys tautness and uncertainty. It's quickly become not just one of my favorite jazz songs, but pieces of music in general. Shorter and Hubbard are both excellent composers, as shown here and on other releases.

In all, I highly recommend this CD. It seems to inhabit the middle ground between hard bop and the post bop that would later follow.

YOWZAH!!!
Whew....blistering performances each and every one. The listener is once again reminded what a magnificent force Freddie Hubbard is. He is the illustrious bridge between Miles Davis and Wynton Marsalis. The band is in stellar form here, and this reissue features incredible alternate takes of Freddie's "Areitis" and Wayne Shorter's "Marie Antoinette" And for the drum literate, may we say "Elvin Jones is spoken here"...and what a joyous and swinging discourse it is!