READY FOR FREDDIE ! _ The recent Mosaic box set
The Complete Freddie Hubbard Blue Note & Impulse Studio Sessions /// フレディ・ハバード・ブルーノート＆インパルス・スタジオ・セッション全集
Mosaic Records has recently released a comprehensive collection of Freddie Hubbard’s Blue Note and Impulse 1960’s studio sessions… and it’s ESSENTIAL.
This label is the gold standard in reissues and library science. Collectible, limited and authoritative. Known for their “Black Box” packaging and comprehensive details, this ongoing body of work is scholarly in its archiving and cataloging of America’s greatest musical treasure - Jazz.
The story of Michael Cuscuna and Charlie Lourie can be found here.
“Freddie Hubbard was, I believe, the greatest jazz trumpet stylists of my generation. His influence is still being felt in the sound of many young trumpeters today. His warm tone and formidable technique will be considered marvels well into the future.” – Herbie Hancock
Here’s what the Mosaic site tells us :
Stunning Audio Quality
Mastered from hi-res files of the original analog masters by Malcolm Addey. Thanks to current 24 bit/192 hKz technology and dramatic improvement in analog to digital converters, the sound on this set is far superior to any previous CD issues and is astonishingly close to that of audiophile vinyl.
Oh and BTW » CD’s!
Yes - as expected CD’s are making a comeback. Likely because of the price of vinyl these days and the fleeting “data” nature of streaming. Many collectors want objects they can own and afford and on top of all of that there’s finally a nostalgia at play. All those CD’s you gathered in the 90’s are beloved again. Huzzah.
Think of CD’s and CD reissues as part of the larger life span of an LP project… This way they take on context. Yes an RVG Blue Note First pressing is an example of where many a jazz LP begins and is grail material through and through, but its life keeps going platform to platform to platform.
In Japan the CD never left. In fact they got better. Find a SHM-CD of whatever you like and brace yourself. The new plastic used to create SHM delivers incredible fidelity. Ebay is a great place to dig into favorite jazz and rock pressings redone in this format. I’m hooked and excited to fill my gaps with these.
We say YES to CD’s for a number of reasons. Price / Sound / Price / Nostalgia
Freddie is on the phone - On a personal note, I was awoken by my mother when I was twelve years old at about 2am one evening. “Your father is on the phone”. It seems Dennis (my dad) was working late in NYC and had been to a club for a couple of “see throughs” and some jazz. “Big Jeff, someone here wants to say hi”…. It was Freddie! The call was a simple hello from him on the payphone to an awestruck kid in pajamas. After a series of compliments and his encouragement to keep playing my bass I hung up. The rest of the night was sleeplessness and a desire to listen to his music the following day… and beyond. The spell remains cast. We say “Ready For Freddie” because he was a titan of the music and the time is now to take it all in as one box. Get ready!
-Jeffery Plansker
Here’s a taste and a link to buy.