Freddie Hubbard – Straight Life ★★★★

Rec. November 1970

To be honest, this writer was never a big fan of Creed Taylor productions. In fact, of most 1970s funk jazz, period. It all seemed too commercial to me. But obviously it would be wrong to generalise and listening to Straight Life again for the first time in 40 years, it sounds so much better than I remember. Just look at the personnel: two of hard bop’s most brilliant hornmen backed by three Miles stalwarts, plus a rapidly emerging guitar talent. Hubbard and Henderson are really in your face on their lengthy superlative hard-hitting solos during the two jam session-ish blues with relatively simple harmonic structures, the title tune and ‘Mr Clean’, with Herbie on Rhodes equally out front. But wouldn’t all these storming solos have been so much more satisfying without the clattering, (cluttering even) funk percussion which personified the era. On these two titles, Benson stands out as the most basic blues player. When you listen, concentrate on the ferocious solos and try to block out the rhythm! The third and final track is in complete contrast. Almost like an afterthought and surely alien to the CTI image. It’s an absolutely gorgeous reading of ‘Here’s That Rainy Day’ with Hubbard at his most eloquent on flugelhorn, backed tastefully by just Carter and Benson. It’s as though a bit of a Blue Note session spirit was still hanging around in Van Gelder’s studio at the time.

- Tony Hall