JAZZ SPOTLIGHT

FREDDIE HUBBARD

“MMTC”

Musicmasters

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EDDIE HENDERSON

“Inspiration”

Milestone

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ART FARMER

“The Meaning of Art”

Arabesque

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Twenty years ago, Hubbard would have been the star power in this trio, even granting Farmer’s prominence at the time. Hubbard’s trumpet chops have been through bad times lately, however, and this recording will be absent from any list of his major accomplishments. There’s nothing lacking in the setting, which includes such tunes as “Naima” and “All Blues,” excellent charts by Bob Belden, Bob Mintzer and others, and showcase performances from saxophonists Vincent Herring, Javon Jackson and pianist Stephen Scott. But Hubbard’s soloing is a constant reminder that when the flesh is weak, it can be nearly impossible to express imaginative creative ideas.

Henderson, roughly Hubbard’s contemporary, has traveled a far different road. After becoming a psychiatrist in the late ‘60s, he opted instead for a career in music. Yet, amazingly, his trumpet and fluegelhorn playing--revealed here in a set of absorbing performances ranging from sumptuous ballad statements to bold, brassy up-tempos--has never quite received the attention it deserves. As an added bonus, Grover Washington Jr. dispenses some of his most appealing pure jazz improvising in years.

A decade older than Henderson and Hubbard, Farmer’s cool, elegant playing has been a model for several generations of trumpeters in search of an intelligent, articulate approach to improvisation. Only slightly less facile than he was in the ‘50s and ‘60s, he still performs with a carefully focused melodic flame. Although one might have hoped for a bit more Farmer solo space, he blends beautifully with a lineup that features saxophonist Ron Blake, veteran trombonist Slide Hampton and pianist Geoff Keezer.

Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good, recommended), four stars (excellent).