Red Clay – 1985

Freddie Hubbard

Lots of sparks fly during the solos of the trumpeter and altoist Kenny Garrett

One of the greatest trumpeters of all time, Freddie Hubbard (1938-2008) built upon the hard bop tradition of Clifford Brown and Lee Morgan, stretching the style with his own personal sound and brilliant playing.

In 1985 he was 47 and in prime form as he shows on this version of one of his more famous compositions, “Red Clay.”

Hubbard is joined by altoist Kenny Garrett (24 at the time and a few years before he joined Miles Davis), pianist Donald Brown, bassist Ira Coleman, and drummer Carl Allen.

Garrett takes a passionate solo and then Hubbard creates a ferocious and exciting statement of his own before the clip ends.

-Scott Yanow