Freddie Hubbard Body & The Soul CD

Digitally remastered by Erick Labson (MCA Music Media Studios).

1963's THE BODY & THE SOUL finds a 25-year-old Freddie Hubbard commanding three different ensembles. The first ensemble is a stellar septet that features the sublime Eric Dolphy on alto saxophone and flute and Hubbard's frequent collaborator, Wayne Shorter on tenor saxophone. One highlight is a gentle and memorable rendition of the classic "Body and Soul," with Hubbard's improvisations sliding closely around the well-loved melody. Dolphy's ethereal flute provides a parenthetical introduction and coda. Where the septet shows Hubbard in familiar light, the larger ensembles show evidence of his young talent ready to blossom.

For the second and third ensembles, Shorter is back, serving as conductor and arranger and expanding into big-band and string arrangements. Though it would seem that such a lineup might heavily favor avant-garde experimentalism, two older standards, "Skylark," by Hoagy Charmichael, and "I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)," by Duke Ellington, are given reverential treatments. Hubbard's playing is sensuous and articulate throughout. THE BODY & THE SOUL features two of the most formidable players and composers of '60s and '70s jazz expanding into new territory, all the while holding true to the music's rich history.

Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on March 11 and May 2, 1963 and at Capitol Studios, New York, New York on March 8, 1963. Includes liner notes by Dan Morgenstern and Michael Cuscuna.

Reissue producer: Michael Cuscuna.

Personnel: Freddie Hubbard (trumpet, horns); Gene Orloff, Harry Lookofsky (vocals, violin, strings); Julius Held, Sol Shapiro, Arnold Eidus, Morris Stonzek, Charles McCracken, Raoul Poliakin, Harry Katzman (violin, strings); Harry Cykman (violin); Eric Dolphy (flute, alto saxophone); Jerome Richardson (saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone); Seldon Powell, Wayne Shorter (saxophone, tenor saxophone); Charles Davis (saxophone, baritone saxophone); Richard Gene Williams , Clark Terry, Ernie Royal, Edward Armour, Al DeRisi (trumpet); Bob Northern, Julius Watkins (French horn, horns); Curtis Fuller, Melba Liston (trombone); Robert Powell (tuba, horns); Robert Powell (tuba); Cedar Walton (piano); Joe Craig Jones, Louis Hayes, Philly Joe Jones (drums).

Liner Note Author: Dan Morgenstern.

Recording information: 03/08/1963-05/02/1963.

Photographers: Ted Russel; Lee Tanner.

Arranger: Wayne Shorter.

Personnel: Freddie Hubbard (trumpet); Wayne Shorter (conductor, tenor saxophone); Eric Dolphy (alto saxophone, flute); Jerome Richardson (tenor & baritone saxophones); Seldon Powell (tenor saxophone); Charles Davis (baritone saxophone); Clark Terry, Al DeRisi, Ernie Royal, Ed Armour, Richard Williams (trumpet); Bob Northern, Julius Watkins (French horn); Curtis Fuller, Melba Liston (trombone); Robert Powell (tuba); Harry Cykman, Morris Stonzek, Arnold Eidus, Sol Shapiro, Charles McCracken, Harry Katzman, Harry Lookofsky, Gene Orloff, Julius Held, Raoul Poliakin (strings); Cedar Walton (piano); Reggie Workman (bass); Louis Hayes, Philly Joe Jones (drums).

Producer: Bob Thiele.

Down Beat (5/97, p.75) - 4.5 (out of 5 Stars) - "...a modern mainstreamer who blew with the ferocity of Trane, the lithe melodicism of Bird. That's the Hubbard you hear on THE BODY & THE SOUL, a prime 1963 recording that places him both in a sextet...and in a big band/string setting with Shorter arranging and conducting..."