Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Freddie Hubbard, 1938-2008















Farewell, Freddie.

Although I was pleasantly surprised to spot extensive coverage of Freddie Hubbard's death in the mainstream media this week, the bad news was accompanied by a sense of wistfulness. It seems like the end of an era.

Wynton Marsalis (born 1961) aside, it's unlikely the the passing of another jazz trumpeter will receive prominent play. It's highly unlikely that the eventual deaths of Terence Blanchard (born 1962), John Faddis (born 1953), Roy Hargrove (born 1969) and Nicholas Payton (born 1973) will receive much attention. Exceptions might be made for Arturo Sandoval (born 1949), because of his dramatic life story, and Herb Alpert (born 1935), Chuck Mangione (born 1940) and Hugh Masekela (born 1939), for their crossover pop hits.

I'll remember Hubbard for his fiery work with Art Blakey, his contribution in 1964 to Eric Dolphy's Out To Lunch and 1971's Red Clay. He made many subsequent appearances, however, including this date with Pancho Sanchez's Latin jazz group.

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Kansas City Click: My New Year's Eve pick is Alacartoona's early show at Jardine's.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sir (and I use that term loosely) lol,

How can you say in advance how much attention the deaths of Terence, Roy, Jon, and Nicholas will garner? A large part of the reason Freddie's life is so bemoaned and celebrated is perhaps as much for the duration of his career as it is for the contributions themselves.

Might I add that the gentlemen listed are still in their 30s and 40s which gives them plenty of time to establish legacies of considerable worth.

And with all due respect . . . . Chuck Mangione is not the same category of trumpeter as Freddie Hubbard. Sorry . . . .

- Nicholas Payton

Happy In Bag said...

Mr. Payton:

While your point is well taken, I'm not attempting to diminish the artistic potential of you and your colleagues. You're four of the best; that's why I named you.

Instead, I'm noting the rapidly diminishing amount of attention given to jazz by mainstream media outlets.

Hubbard's passing made television broadcasts and newspaper headlines. It's great to see that acknowledgment. I'm simply afraid it won't be there thirty or forty years from now. I hope I'm wrong.

Chris Covais said...

Fuck you Payton. I love Freddie Hubbard, but Mangione is a very special musician and is certainly right up there with the best of them. Maybe not as far as chops go, but that doesn't mean shit anyway.

I will never buy another one of your records you jive ass mother fucker. It's people like you that fuck up jazz and music in general with stupid ass moronic comments like that.

Dumbass....