What makes The Hub of Hubbard by Freddie Hubbard notable?

This album is significant for its artistic cohesion and critical reception, which reaffirmed Hubbard's status within the jazz community during the early 1970s. Critics noted its innovative blending of styles, contributing to the evolution of jazz during a time when fusion was emerging as a dominant genre. The album has been praised for its emotional depth and technical prowess, influencing subsequent generations of jazz musicians. The Hub of Hubbard, released in November 1972, marked Freddie Hubbard's return to Blue Note Records after a brief period on the CTI label. At this point in his career, Hubbard was solidifying his reputation as a leading figure in jazz, following acclaimed works like Ready for Freddie and Breaking Point. This album continued his exploration of complex arrangements and collaborative improvisation.

How many songs are on The Hub of Hubbard?

The Hub of Hubbard has 4 tracks, running approximately 34 minutes.

Released 54 years ago this November

The Hub of Hubbard

Freddie Hubbard · 1972

34 min · 4 tracks · jazz

A vibrant blend of hard-bop and modal jazz showcasing intricate trumpet lines and rich harmonies.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Without a Song — This track opens the album with an expansive arrangement that highlights Hubbard's virtuosic trumpet playing and sets the tone for the entire record. Its lengthy improvisational sections allow for deep musical conversations among band members.
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Blues for Duane — Dedicated to the late Duane Allman, this piece showcases Hubbard's ability to convey emotion through melody while embracing blues elements, making it stand out as both a tribute and an exploration of harmonic complexity.
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Just One of Those Things — This rendition features intricate interplay between the ensemble, demonstrating Hubbard's knack for interpreting standards with fresh perspectives while maintaining a strong rhythmic foundation.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental

59 /100

Treeline

Higher than 57% of albums we've rated

The album blends hard-bop and modal jazz effectively, showcasing strong trumpet lines and cohesive arrangements.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 6/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 7/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Without a Song 12:51
2 Just One of Those Things 7:14
3 Blues for Duane 7:34
4 The Things We Did Last Summer 7:19

What to play next

Listen next

Sky Dive

1973

Go back to

First Light

1971

Full Freddie Hubbard discography Where to start with Freddie Hubbard Artists like Freddie Hubbard

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Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata