This week I wanted to revisit a genre that is near and very dear to me, jazz. Besides Herbie Hancock way back at the inception of the blog, Ella, Jamie Cullum and a bit of Madlib we haven't really dug into jazz to the extent I'd like. Some of you might be wondering why I didn't select a more well known artist like Miles Davis, Coltrane, Monk, etc. Although I love all of those artists, my goal this week was to give those of you who aren't quite sold on jazz music the chance to enjoy an album that is as technically sound as it is beautiful.When beginning my vinyl collection Open Sesame was one of a handful of albums that I first bought. It wasn't until recently that I sat down and gave it a proper listen, and I was blown away. What we have here is a 22 year old trumpeter, Freddie Hubbard, who was given a chance to lead a group of skilled jazz players on his first ever record on the gold standard of all jazz labels, Blue Note. This is straightforward bebop jazz album; not heavy on improvisation or experimentation, it's a very easy listen, even for those who don't prefer jazz music. Freddie, although highly esteemed by all jazz enthusiasts, has always lived in the shadow of another transcendent jazz trumpeter, Miles Davis. Just a minute into Open Sesame and Hubbard's ambitious and confident playing is commanding you to take notice of an artist who was truly a prodigy. Also take note of Tina Brooks on tenor sax, had it not been for a crippling drug addiction and premature death, he would have been mentioned alongside the greatest ever, like Coltrane or Shorter.
I felt this album was my best chance at converting some of you non-jazz folk. The proficiency by each player on this album is bordering on perfection, as I can hardly find a note out of place. If you do like this album, I can definitely point you in the direction of other terrific bebop albums and artists from this glorious period in jazz music. Hopefully Open Sesame will open a door to the extraordinary world of jazz for you.
I have never had anything against jazz, it is just similar to the Broadcast album where I don’t really have a mood where I need it. I am pretty sure I would enjoy watching a live performance as I do enjoy watching others excel in their field. I will say the trumpet is not my favorite instrument, primarily from a recent episode of Madden’s favorite show, The Fresh Beat Band.
ReplyDelete‘Open Sesame’ immediately demonstrates Freddie’s ability to paint a picture in your mind with some very smooth trumpeting. My favorite part is the piano solo around the 6 min mark as I very much prefer the piano over the trumpet. ‘But Beautiful’ has a very sexy appeal to it and I can’t help but think of the Jessica Rabbit number in ‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit’. ‘Gypsy Blue’ is a more upbeat track which I can only help but picture a tango being performed to. The piano solo at the 4 minute and the bass solo at the 4.5 mark. ‘All or Nothing at All’ has the exact sounds I think of when I hear Jazz being referred to. This was my favorite on the album as it had what I believe the industry refers to as a splashy bass line and was a better amalgamation of all of the instruments. ‘One Mint Julep’ was the first time I really noticed Tina Brooks’ work, but seems to lull me to sleep more than the rest despite this track getting the most recognition from my internet research.
I guess all in all, I won’t be mad at yah if you throw this into the cd/record player.
I know quite a few jazz musicians, but Freddie Hubbard is someone I have never taken the time to listen to. Like Thomas, I prefer the jazz piano. However, there is something about how up-tempo and fun the trumpet can be. It is such a beautiful day outside I can’t think of anything better than some happy go lucky jazz to match the day.
ReplyDelete“Open Sesame” is just what the doctor ordered on a day like today. It makes you want to get up and enjoy life, which is exactly the kind of music I should be listening to through the winter when I am longing for warmer days so I can get outside and enjoy myself. This song almost has a Latin flair to it from time to time which I really like, and the piano solo is also a very nice addition. We then go into “But Beautiful” which is exactly what the song is. While I am still high off the first track this song puts me in a more reflective/romantic mood. This is exactly the type of music I picture being played as backdrop to a romantic evening, hopefully Thomas is taking notes…Ha! While I definitely don’t usually picture trumpeting as a form of romantic/somber music, Freddie pulls out all the stops and pulls you in with his smooth flow. “All or Nothing” takes on that more schizophrenic feel that most people associate with jazz music. I always wonder when they are playing these songs live if they ever play it the same way twice. That and who would ever be able to tell if they changed a note here or there? “One Mint Julep” has a very catchy repetition to it, and Freddie stands out as the star in this track.
Overall I really enjoyed the album. It had the much needed pick up I needed to get me out of my winter slump, and I will definitely be going back to it in the future.
Sorry it has taken us so long to comment. This semester has been insane. Work has not slowed since January and neither has school... anyway. I got plenty of listening in and skipped the gym tonight to do my post.
ReplyDeleteBy now this whole outfit knows jazz is not my thing. I am a person who likes a lot of structure in music, so for me, jazz is a little too freeform and abstract - like a Jackson Pollock painting. While I can appreciate the skill of individual musicians, and Freddie Hubbard is certainly skilled, and I can appreciate the creativity it must take to compose an album like this one, one would be hard pressed to find me listening to this type of music outside of Music Togetherness.
The trumpet certainly is an interesting instrument, and nice for a change of pace. The mood it emits is kind of a dark and sensual one, even on the upbeat tracks. The whole album sounds like the soundtrack one might hear while dining at a fancy restaurant.
The upbeat tracks sound like they would be fun to see performed live, whereas the slower ones are pretty but a little sleepy. I agree with Beth on the Latin feel of some of the tracks, though I didn't really hear it until "Gypsy Blue." One partiular highlight for me on that track was the bassline about a minute and a half in... the rest of the music quiets down a little bit and you can hear that instrument so well. The trumpet line sounds like something you could hear in a dance class.
Each of the tracks has a touch of something unique so I can tell when one has changed to the other - usually I would say that everything ran together.
I probably wouldn't stop the radio dial on a station playing this and I wouldn't choose it for usual listening enjoyment, but it would be pretty incredible to see live (how do the musicians keep the pace for these long tracks I will never know), and it makes for some pretty good background music.
Freddie Hubbard was another artist that I've heard of before, but had never actually listened to. I listen to jazz fairly regularly, but my listening is primarily limited to a few major artists. The album that we heard this week is a great one, though, and it has definitely caused me to seek out more of this man's music.
ReplyDeleteThe title track starts off introducing us to the hard bop style of Freddie, and shows that he has the chops to compete with some of the greats. The song is aptly titled with the Arabian feel to Freddie's trumpet lines in what could be considered the chorus, and overall it's a nice up-tempo number to get things rocking in the right way. "But Beautiful" follows this up with a slow, swaying feel, and it's the perfect example of what I imagine when I think of jazz that should be played in a nice, quiet setting...like that of a cafe or record store. Tina Brooks is the standout on "Gypsy Blue", as his smooth playing sounds fantastic. "One Mint Julep" is my favorite song on the album....it really reminds me of the song that's being played during the dance on "Back to the Future". The players take turns showcasing their abilities to the fullest, but again Tina Brooks steals the show. I had heard of him before, but as far as I know, I've never heard anything by him, or at least knowing that it was him. I can see what Justin's saying when he wrote that he could have been one of the greats, and it really is a shame that drug problems got in the way of that, as they have for so many artists with great potential. As for the band leader, though, Freddie Hubbard deserves more recognition than he seems to have gotten, and I'm really glad that I was properly introduced to him this week. Every track on this album is sensational, and this will definitely be an album that will be added to my jazz rotation in the future.