Freddie Hubbard • First Light

 

Review by Thom Jurek
Never one to take lyricism for granted, trumpeter and composer Freddie Hubbard entered Creed Taylor's studio for the third time in 1971 with the express purpose of making a record radically different from anything he'd cut before; he was looking for it to use electricity and to be out of the soul-jazz mold, but was also more ambitious and wanted to push that envelope and himself. Taylor and Hubbard assembled a band that included Herbie Hancock on Rhodes, guitarists Eric Gale and George Benson, bassist Ron Carter, Jack DeJohnette on drums, Airto Moreira on percussion, and Richard Wyands on acoustic piano to back him. The band was also supported by the truly ethereal and adventurous string arrangements of Don Sebesky (a first for Hubbard). The result is a masterpiece of textured sound, gorgeously far-flung charts, sweet, tight grooves, a subtle mystic feel, and some of Hubbard's most exciting playing ever. The title track and Hubbard's ingenious read of Paul and Linda McCartney's "Uncle Albert/ Admiral Halsey," as well as Leonard Bernstein's "Lonely Town," are so in the pocket that they bleed soul. Benson's uncharacteristically edgy guitar playing juxtaposed against Hubbard's warm tone, and Hancock's beautifully modal Rhodes lines that are drenched with big, open, minor chord voicings, are simply made more illustrious and graceful by Sebesky's strings. While Red Clay and Straight Life are both fine albums, First Light is the one that connects on all levels -- and it did with the jazz-buying public as well. A masterpiece.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/first-light-mw0000188197

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Reseña de Thom Jurek
Nunca dando por sentado el lirismo, el trompetista y compositor Freddie Hubbard entró en el estudio de Creed Taylor por tercera vez en 1971 con el propósito expreso de hacer un disco radicalmente diferente a todo lo que había grabado antes; buscaba que usara electricidad y saliera del molde del soul-jazz, pero también era más ambicioso y quería superar ese límite y a él mismo. Taylor y Hubbard formaron una banda que incluía a Herbie Hancock en Rhodes, los guitarristas Eric Gale y George Benson, el bajista Ron Carter, Jack DeJohnette en la batería, Airto Moreira en la percusión y Richard Wyands en el piano acústico para respaldarlo. La banda también fue apoyada por los arreglos de cuerdas verdaderamente etéreos y aventureros de Don Sebesky (una primicia para Hubbard). El resultado es una obra maestra de sonido texturizado, gráficos magníficamente remotos, ritmos dulces y ajustados, una sutil sensación mística y algunas de las interpretaciones más emocionantes de Hubbard. La canción principal y la ingeniosa lectura de Hubbard de "Uncle Albert/ Admiral Halsey" de Paul y Linda McCartney, así como de "Lonely Town" de Leonard Bernstein, están tan en el bolsillo que sangran el alma. La guitarra inusualmente nerviosa de Benson yuxtapuesta al tono cálido de Hubbard, y las hermosas líneas modales de Rhodes de Hancock que están empapadas de voces de acordes grandes, abiertas y menores, simplemente se vuelven más ilustres y elegantes con las cuerdas de Sebesky. Si bien Red Clay y Straight Life son buenos álbumes, First Light es el que conecta en todos los niveles y también lo hizo con el público que compra jazz. Una obra maestra.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/first-light-mw0000188197

Tracks:
1 - First Light
Written-By – Freddie Hubbard 11:05
2 - Uncle Albert / Admiral Halsey
Written-By – Paul & Linda McCartney 8:14
3 - Moment To Moment
Written-By – Henry Mancini, Johnny Mercer 5:43
4 - Yesterday's Dreams
Written-By – Don Sebesky, Norman Martin 3:57
5 - Lonely Town (From "On The Town")
Written-By – Comden & Green*, Leonard Bernstein 6:59


Credits:
    Arranged By – Don Sebesky
    Bass – Ron Carter
    Bassoon – Jane Taylor, Wally Kane
    Clarinet – George Marge, Romeo Penque
    Design – Bob Ciano
    Drums – Jack DeJohnette
    Engineer – Rudy Van Gelder
    French Horn – James Buffington*, Ray Alonge
    French Horn, Oboe – Romeo Penque
    Guitar – George Benson
    Harp – Margaret Ross
    Percussion – Airto Moreira
    Photography By – Pete Turner
    Piano – Richard Wyands
    Producer – Creed Taylor
    Trumpet – Freddie Hubbard
    Vibraphone [Vibes] – Phil Kraus

Recorded September 1971 at Van Gelder Studios.

Label:    CTI Records – KICJ 8265
Series:    New Just Jazz Series
Released:    Jul 24, 1998
Genre:    Jazz
Style:    Fusion, Jazz-Funk, Post Bop
https://www.discogs.com/release/7024468-Freddie-Hubbard-First-Light

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