FREDDIE HUBBARD — Skagly (review)

FREDDIE HUBBARD — Skagly album cover Album · 1980 · Post-Fusion Contemporary Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
dreadpirateroberts
Deep into his more commercial period 'Skagly' finds Hubbard taking a slicker approach in some ways, blending an at times very light funk with a smoother sound for Columbia.

Ultimately it's less satisfying than a lot of his Hard Bop or Fusion classics, but it's got its share of interesting moments, one of which is the title track, also the album's longest at over fourteen minutes. Here Hubbard's regular group of the period is expanded to include guests Phil Ranelin, George Duke and Jeff Baxter on trombone, claves and guitar respectively. Solos spread out over a more riff-based approach to the rhythm section and the effect is to achieve some welcome tonal difference to the rest of the album. In a similar, if lighter vein, is opener 'Happiness is Now' which is probably the most commercial-sounding track on the album, with its smooth groove, complete with upbeat bass-lines and chilled phrasing from Hubbard.

Elsewhere the pieces don't leap out - 'Theme from Summer of 42' suffers from a lackluster arrangement and 'Cascais' is fair but not really memorable. In fact, the closer 'Rustic Celebration' employs Childs' keys and Caliman's flute to better use and has a bit more going on.

While broad comparisons to 'First Light' probably aren't unreasonable, 'Skagly' doesn't have the same feel in the end. As a collection of songs, it's both more restrained and less emotive. Does all this make it a bad album? No. There's just not the same level of risk-taking or innovation as heard on many of his other records.

(Trivia: Cover image is of 'five-octave' singer Thilita according to a 1980 issue of 'Jet.')
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Jazz Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

6 Eclectic Fusion
KROKOFANT
Buy this album from MMA partners
Spring In Stockholm Live At Konserthuset, 1959 Cool Jazz
GERRY MULLIGAN
Buy this album from MMA partners
Mikolaj Trzaska, Ingebrigt Haker Flaten, Paal Nilssen-Love : The Last Temple vol.3 Avant-Garde Jazz
MIKOŁAJ TRZASKA
Buy this album from MMA partners
Mikolaj Trzaska, Ingebrigt Haker Flaten, Paal Nilssen-Love : The Last Temple, Vol.1 Avant-Garde Jazz
MIKOŁAJ TRZASKA
Buy this album from MMA partners
Mikołaj Trzaska / Ingebrigt Håker Flaten / Paal Nilssen-Love : The Last Temple Vol.2 Avant-Garde Jazz
MIKOŁAJ TRZASKA
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

FASCINATING RHYTHM - The Amazing Keystone Big Band feat. Neima Naouri
THE AMAZING KEYSTONE BIG BAND
snobb· 1 day ago
Alicante
RENAUD GARCIA-FONS
js· 1 day ago
She's Forty with Me
WILTON CRAWLEY
js· 1 day ago
Tall Tillie's Too Tight
WILTON CRAWLEY
js· 1 day ago
Rhoda Scott Ladies and Gentlemen - special guest : David Linx
RHODA SCOTT
snobb· 1 day ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed