Hubbard Freddie, born Frederick Dewayne Hubbard, *7 April 1938 Indianapolis, †28 December 2008 Los Angeles, American jazz trumpeter. He began learning to play the trumpet at the age of 14, then studied at the Arthur Jordan Conservatory of Music in Indianapolis, where he first came into contact with jazz musicians. In 1957, he recorded with Monk and Wes Montgomery’s band, and then with P. Chambers. In 1959, he collaborated with Sonny Rollins and Slide Hampton. In 1960, he recorded material for his debut album (Open Sesame, Blue Note, 1960), toured Europe with Q. Jones’ orchestra, and participated in the recording of O. Coleman’s avant-garde album Free Jazz. He gained widespread recognition through his collaboration with Art Blakey’s band Jazz Messengers, with whom he recorded 10 albums between 1961 and 1966. During this period, he also collaborated with E. Dolphy (Out to Lunch, 1964), J. Coltrane (Olé, 1961; Ascension, 1965), Bill Evans (Interplay, 1962), H. Hancock (among others Maidem Voyage, 1965), McCoy Tyner, E. Jones, and others. In 1966, he formed his own band with James Spaulding, Kenny Barron, and Louis Hayes. He performed with many different groups, including V.S.O.P. (1977–79), which consisted of members of the former M. Davis Quintet: H. Hancock, W. Shorter, R. Carter, T. Williams (including the album Tempest in the Colosseum, CBS/Sony 1977), and also made many recordings under his own name. He performed in Poland in 1979, 1980, 1986, and 1991 (At Jazz Jamboree ’91: A Tribute to Miles, Starburst 2000) and in 1992.
Hubbard was one of the most versatile jazz trumpeters of the 1960s and 1970s. He had impeccable technique, a clear, powerful sound, and was gifted with great musical imagination. He was also a gifted composer and improviser. Initially, he drew inspiration from the achievements of C. Brown, Booker Little, Dizzy Gillespie, and early M. Davis, then developed his own language, balancing various styles of bebop, modal jazz, and free jazz. In the 1970s, he successfully expressed himself in lighter genres, performing a funk-fusion and soul repertoire (including the albums Red Clay, First Light, and Sky Dive), which sparked controversy among critics. In the 1980s, he returned to mainstream jazz. Hubbard’s playing style influenced many well-known trumpeters, including Woody Shaw and Wynton Marsalis.
