A hefty helping of Hubbard.
Blue Moods – Force & Grace – [TrackList follows] – Posi-Tone PR8264, 59:56 [1/3/24] ****:
(Diego Rivera – tenor & soprano saxophones; Art Hirahara – piano (tracks 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 11); Jon Davis – piano (tracks 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12); Boris Kozlov – bass; Vinnie Sperrazza – drums; Marc Free – producer)
2025 is a good year for Freddie Hubbard fans. Resonance Records issued the two-CD or three-LP On Fire: Live from the Blue Morocco taped in 1967 at a New York City jazz spot. That archival outing has gotten lots of attention from jazz buffs and critics, but there’s an equally listenable release which came out in early January, the Blue Moods’ Force & Grace, the third tribute album in an ongoing series from the group Blue Moods and the Posi-Tone label. Previous Blue Moods CDs celebrated Charles Mingus (2022’s Myth & Wisdom) and Duke Pearson (2024’s Swing & Soul).
Force & Grace features 12 interpretations of Hubbard-penned tunes performed by Diego Rivera (on tenor and soprano sax), pianists Art Hirahara (on 6 tracks) and Jon Davis (also on six tracks), bassist Boris Kozlov and drummer Vinnie Sperrazza. The omission of trumpet might seem odd at first but it removes any distracting comparisons to Hubbard’s iconic playing. Thus, the music reveals Hubbard’s compositional mastery which sometimes wasn’t as noticeable by listeners who may have focused on Hubbard’s consummate trumpet skills.
The quartet kicks off with a straightforward “Crisis” from 1962’s Blue Note LP, Ready for Freddie. That’s followed by “First Light,” the title ballad from Hubbard’s 1971 CTI LP. It’s nice to hear this without Don Sebesky’s strings with the emphasis on sax, piano, bass and drums. Blue Moods shorten the arrangement by more than half (from 11 minutes to just over four minutes) and there are some nice moments from Hirahara and Rivera (on soprano sax). Blue Moods is wonderfully reflective on the bluesy ballad/character study “Brigitte” (from 1979’s Columbia LP The Love Connection). A lithe “Little Sunflower” (found on both The Love Connection and 1967’s Atlantic LP Backlash) showcases Davis’ supple piano and more of Rivera’s sweet soprano.
One highlight is “Latina” (from Hubbard’s 1968 Atlantic Records LP High Blues Pressure). Rivera and Hirahara solo with aplomb and the group creates a sizzling and slightly funky treatment prodded by Sperrazza’s drums. The swinging “D Minor Mint” (from 1964’s Breaking Point!) is another standout with a post-bop energy which makes this cut one to enjoy many times. Another must-hear is the album-closing “Soul Surge” (see 1967’s Blue Note LP Blue Spirits) which spins with soul-jazz sprightliness. The band slices the original arrangement from 10:24 to 4:36 which puts a firm aim on Hubbard’s melodicism and still allows plenty of solo space for Rivera’s tenor. Force & Grace is a terrific tribute but it’s also a superb setting for the Blue Mood’s memorable quartet interplay, interpretation and communication.
—Doug Simpson
Blue Moods – Force & Grace
TrackList:
Crisis
First Light
Latina
On The Que-Tee
Little Sunflower
Gibraltar
D Minor Mint
Sky Dive
Happy Times
Lament For Booker
Soul Surge
