FREDDIE HUBBARD — Polar AC (review)

Album · 1975 · Fusion

4/5 · 2024-09-22
FunkFreak75

A new genre of "Quiet Storm" radio shows was increasing the listeners' exposure to "Jazz Lite" music like this. Despite the fact that Freddie had left Creed Taylor and CTI Records in 1974 (or perhaps because of their separation), Creed's label decided to throw together an album of previously-unreleased songs from recording sessions Freddie had had with Creed and Rudy Van Gelder dating back as far as 1971. (September 16, 1971, for "Polar AC," April 12, 1972 for "People Make the World Go Round" and "Betcha By Golly, Wow," October 4 & 5, 1972 for "Naturally," and October 5 and/or 23, 1973 for "Son of Sky Dive.") Hence, Polar AC was released on April 18, 1975.

Since 1969, the veteran trumpeter had been somewhat fickle about getting on board the jazz-rock fusion train. Here we have a collection of songs that are representative of a large span of Freddie's early dabbles, parading a virtual who's who of proven Jazz musicians who had also proven quite willing and curious to experiment with these new sound palettes and song dynamics. I originally purchased this album precisely because of the large number of collaborating artists listed on the album's credits (I had been getting hugely into Bob James, the Laws brothers, and Ron Carter during this period), but also due to the fact that Freddy was covering two of my all-time favorite soul/R&B songs, both made famous by The Stylistics: "People Make the World Go Round" and "Bethca By Golly, Wow." With his rendition of the former, Freddie made the best version of the song I've ever heard: here, on Polar AC.

1. "Polar AC" (6:57) a Cedar Walton tune covered with the help of Jack DeJohnette on drums. (13.125/15)

2. "People Make the World Go Round" (5:50) Lenny White is the drummer on this one. A personal favorite. (10/10)

3. "Betcha By Golly, Wow" (8:09) a good song that actually gets better when Freddie starts to take liberties with the melody lines. (13.5/15)

4. "Naturally" (5:52) a Cannonball Adderly song helped out by Billy Cobham. The song even sounds like a nostalgic look back into the post-My Favorite Things 1960s. Even Hubert Laws' flute feels so Sixties. Pleasant and melodic with very solid traditional jazz play (and sounds) from Freddie's supporting musicians. (8.875/10)

5. "Son of Sky Dive" (13:20) a reconditioning of the title song from one of Freddie's first attempts to foray into the Jazz-Rock Fusion idiom--a more latin rhythm form released in 1972 on which he used a lineup that included Billy Cobham, Airto Moreira, Ray Barretto, Ron Carter, Keith Jarrett, Hubert Laws, and George Benson. This one's better. Lenny White was pretty good, too. Sounds and plays out like "Love Connection Version 1." I absolutely LOVE Lenny White's drum play as well as Ron Carter's bass and keyboard support from George Gables. This is great modern-day jazz without collapsing into the quagmire of an abyss of "Smooth Jazz." (27.5/30)

A-/4.5 stars; a near-masterpiece of jazz-rock fusion.