Yesterday’s Dreams

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 song is written by Don Sebesky and Norman Martin, who was an Australian politician. Don Sebesky is an American jazz trombonist, composer, arranger and writer. His arrangements reflect a solid knowledge of the orchestra, inspired by the jazz of big bands, classical music of all times, rock, ethnic music and even the avant-garde. At the age of 12 he started to play the trombone and launched his professional career while still studying at the Manhattan School of Music playing with the big bands of Kai Winding, Tommy Dorsey and Claude Thornhill. Then he abandoned school to play with Maynard Ferguson’s big band and briefly with Stan Kenton’s big band.

In 1960 he decided to dedicate himself to composing and arranging music combining jazz with classical music. In 1965 he was employed by Verve Records, which would later became A&M and eventually CTI, and his first success was his arrangements for Wes Montgomery’s album Bumpin’. He also participated in Paul Desmond’s From the Hot Afternoon, George Benson’s The Shape of Things to Come and Freddie Hubbard’s First Light, making these musicians enjoyable for non-jazz fans. In addition, he has composed and arranged for pop stars, several films and television, and in 1983 began his career in orchestration for Broadway musicals.

The introduction is made by the orchestral ensemble at a very slow pace and then Hubbard joins in playing the trumpet with a mute to expose the theme. It’s a ballad with a beautiful and melancholic melody that Hubbard presents in a light and subtle way. Then he starts to make a heartfelt and moving solo with the group, which is later replaced by the ensemble. The latter accompanies him to the end of the piece of music finishing fading out.