First Light

Freddie Hubbard (trumpet, flugelhorn), George Benson (guitar), Herbie Hancock (Fender Rhodes), Richard Wyands (piano), Ron Carter (bass), Jack DeJohnette (drums), Airto Moreira (percussion) and Don Sebesky (string arrangements). From the album First Light (1971).

This album is part of a trilogy that includes his two previous works, Red Clay and Straight Life, and includes string arrangements by Don Sebesky. The orchestral ensemble consists of a vibraphone, an English horn, an oboe, a harp, two clarinets, two French horns, two bassoons, two cellos, two violas, four flutes and ten violins. By the time Freddie Hubbard recorded this album he had already become a trumpeter whom all wanted to imitate.

His ability to impress with an amazing readiness and quick phrasing was unparalleled, and had a rich tone and innate sense of melody. But this time he wanted to produce something different from what he had done before. The result is a masterpiece of textured sound, sweet and tight rhythms, a subtle mystical feel and one of Hubbard’s most fascinating performances.

This is the only composition of the album written by Hubbard. The group performs a long and slow introduction, and afterwards they expose the theme at medium tempo. At some point a flute intervenes, then the orchestral ensemble joins in and Hubbard finishes exposing the theme. He soon begins his solo in a calm way, but not long after he shows his robust and powerful side using diverse and amazing phrases. Then the flutes sound to give way to Benson, who displays a heated speech using sometimes chords and other times sentences at high speed. He also introduces guitar tricks while the orchestral ensemble accompanies him below. The flutes play again and then the group re-exposes the theme, but Hubbard keeps playing for a while fading out.