FREDDIE HUBBARD - SPLASH

Freddie Hubbard is one of the most recorded trumpeters in jazz history, his huge catalogue covering stylistic bases ranging from straight jazz, soul-jazz, fusion to some of the most pioneering free jazz of all time. He's also got one of the most recognisable trumpet sounds in jazz history, identifiable after just one note, and had one of the most formidable techniques ever heard on the instrument. He made some legendary solo albums on the Blue Note, CTI and Atlantic labels and also performed with the likes of Herbie Hancock on 'Maiden Voyage', John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman on 'Free Jazz' and Oliver Nelson on 'Blues And The Abstract Truth'.

Splash, his sole release for the famous jazz label Fantasy, was originally released in 1981 but quickly became out of print. but now it's received a shiny makeover and has never sounded better. This is one of the key jazz/funk albums of the '80s featuring the likes of James Gadson and Paul Jackson Jr. and some of Hubbard's finest solos. But it has always attracted a legendary status, mainly due to its main vocal track ‘You’re Gonna Lose Me’ which was also the album’s only single. Recorded at Hit City West in Los Angeles and mixed at Fantasy, Splash was co-produced by Al Hall Jr and features Paul Jackson Jr and David T Walker on guitar, James Gadson on drums and vocalists Jeanie Tracy and Maurice “Mo” Long. The music is an exquisite mix of soul, funk and jazz and Hubbard’s superlative playing reaches its peak on the beautiful slow number ‘Mystic Lady’ and classic jazz/funk instrumental ‘Sister ’Stine’. The title track and ‘You’re Gonna Lose Me’ are vehicles for sublime vocalist Jeanie Tracy, with Hubbard also delivering exquisite solos on both.