Blue Spirits (1987)

"This CD, Freddie Hubbard's last Blue Note release of the 1960s, adds two numbers to the original LP program and features the great trumpeter in three challenging settings ranging from a sextet to an octet. Hubbard uses such sidemen as altoist James Spaulding, tenors Joe Henderson and Hank Mobley, the euphonium of Kiane Zawadi, pianists Harold Mabern, McCoy Tyner and Herbie Hancock, bassists Larry Ridley, Bob Cranshaw and Reggie Workman, drummers Clifford Jarvis, Pete La Roca and Elvin Jones, the congas of Big Black and on one song bassoonist Hosea Taylor. The set is comprised of seven diverse Hubbard originals" "Blue Spirits is the true peak of Hubbard's acoustic output. Lengthy playing times give him and his stellar assemblage of sidemen plenty of room to improvise while still maintaining the sinewy, brooding grooves that Hubbard was no doubt looking for when he said that he was trying to get a "dark sound" on this album. Definitely a worthy addition to any collection. (Allmusic)