Freddie Hubbard’s album “Hub-Tones,” released in 1962, is an essential and influential work in the realm of hard bop and post-bop jazz. The album’s significance lies in its innovation, stellar musicianship, and its role in shaping the direction of modern jazz.

“Hub-Tones” showcases Hubbard’s virtuosic trumpet skills and his ability to seamlessly blend hard bop and modal jazz, marking a pivotal moment in the evolution of the genre. The album’s title track is a standout composition, characterized by its captivating melody and intricate harmonic structure. Hubbard’s exploration of modal elements here was influential, as it foreshadowed the modal jazz movement popularized by artists like Miles Davis.

This album boasts a remarkable lineup, including Herbie Hancock, Reggie Workman, and Clifford Jarvis, all of whom went on to make significant contributions to the jazz canon. The album’s blend of tradition and innovation makes it an important milestone in the jazz landscape, further solidifying Freddie Hubbard’s status as a jazz luminary and contributing to the genre’s ever-evolving legacy.

This book is part of a series of complete album transcriptions of Freddie Hubbard’s incredible catalog by Erik Veldkamp. See them all at this link, see the song list and album review below, and view samples to the left. Then, grab yourself an immediate digital download above.

Song List

You’re My Everything
Prophet Jennings
Hub-Tones
Lament for Booker
For Spee’s Sake
You’re My Everything (Alt)
Hub-Tones (Alt)

Album Review

Trumpeter Freddie Hubbard teams up on record with James Spaulding (who doubles on alto and flute) for the first time on this excellent set, with the assistance of pianist Herbie Hancock, bassist Reggie Workman, and drummer Clifford Jarvis. The quintet performs four of the trumpeter’s originals (including “Lament for Booker” and the title cut) plus an advanced version of the standard “You’re My Everything.” John Coltrane’s modal music was starting to influence Hubbard’s conception and his own playing was pushing the modern mainstream ahead without really entering the avant-garde.