Freddie Hubbard is heard exclusively on flügelhorn on this impressive release, accompanied by
the New Jazz Composers Octet; although none of the octet members contributed any compositions to the session, trumpeter
David Weiss did most of the arrangements, sometimes collaborating with
Hubbard. Gone are the lip problems that plagued
Hubbard somewhat during the 1990s, as he launches into his richly textured post-bop "One of Another Kind," which also has strong solos by tenor saxophonist
Craig Handy and alto saxophonist
Myron Walden. The leader's funky "Blues for Miles" is reminiscent of a street parade, while the Latin flavor of "Dizzy's Connotations" obviously salutes
Dizzy Gillespie, and
Hubbard also revisits his classic "Red Clay." The only song not from
Hubbard's pen is
Chick Corea's "Inner Space," a fine arrangement by Weiss that oddly features no trumpet or flügelhorn solos. The supporting cast on this topnotch CD also includes
Kenny Garrett,
Xavier Davis,
Javon Jackson, and
Dwayne Burno. ~ Ken Dryden