One of
Freddie Hubbard's few decent efforts during his very commercial period with Columbia, this LP found his quintet (with tenor-saxophonist
Junior Cook and keyboardist
George Cables) joined by a small orchestra and a string section on a set of potentially dismal material. Fortunately these six performances (particularly "Crisis," "Ebony Moonbeams" and
Stevie Wonder's "Too High") are given fairly creative treatment. The leader/trumpeter is in good form and there is solo space given to
Ernie Watts (on bass flute, soprano and flute) and tenorman
Pete Christlieb in addition to the quintet members.