I have every Hubbard Blue Note album as a leader and most as a sideman, and I'd have to say this one gets the most listens out of me. The lineup is stellar, including McCoy Tyner and Wayne Shorter. Bernard McKinney's Euphonium subtly adds a great amount of depth to the group's sound at the heads. If you are missing this in your collection you really ought to pick it up.

I have written several glowing reviews of trumpeter Freddie Hubbard's Blue Note recordings -- "Open Sesame," "Goin' Up," "Hub Cap," and "Hub-Tones" -- but "Ready for Freddie" is his finest album for the label. Originally released on CD in the limited edition Connoisseur series, it makes a permanent return to the catalog now in the RVG series. Recorded on August 21, 1961, this session features Wayne Shorter on tenor sax, Bernard McKinney on euphonium (!), McCoy Tyner on piano, Art Davis on bass and Elvin Jones on drums. What primarily distinguishes this set from earlier efforts is the maturity of Hubbard's original statements, both in terms of his playing style and his compositions. His already overflowing talent was even further developed during this period in his career, as he concurrently played and recorded on his own and with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. In fact, this album's closing track "Crisis" was reprised on the Messengers' classic LP "Mosaic" just six weeks later. The other defining elements for me are the contributions and propulsive play of McCoy and Elvin, who were already thoroughly ensconced in the their classic period with John Coltrane, and the unique sound of Bernard McKinney's euphonium, which adds a deep, melodious baritone to the proceedings. In all, get "Ready" to purchase Freddie Hubbard's best disc.

In my opinion, this (along with Red Clay) is Freddie Hubbard's finest album as a leader. I find his sideman work to be better than his leader dates, but "Ready for Freddie" is a classic Blue Note hard-bop outing, that pits Hubbard (who is in fine form with his burning, sometimes bluesy, always brilliant solos) with the perfect counterweight in Wayne Shorter on tenor sax (check out the VSOP quintet, or Speak No Evil for an even better album with these two phenoms.) To complete the horn section we have Benard McKinney on Euphonium, who has a nice tone, and does nothing to hurt this album. The rhythm section is excellent, with the piano-drum duo extraordinaire of McCoy Tyner and Elvin Jones. The underappreciated Art Davis is the bass anchor, and on this outing is the equal of more famous men such as Ron Carter or Scott LaFaro.

The compositions, all by Hubbard save one by Shorter, are catchy, jaunty tunes that are perfect setups for Hubbard's fire, Shorter's elipticism and Tyner's runs. You can tell that these 3 soloits all have a LITTLE bit more growing to do, but their ascendancy as jazz superstars is all but complete. Most impressive is the band's reading of Marie Antoinette, and the absolutely superb "Crisis," the best piece of the day. This cd is great for anyone who wants to get more into Hubbard (the finest trumpeter of the 60's IMO,) as well as equally important musicians as Shorter, Tyner and Jones. After listening to this album, you'll be primed to hear the later postbop work of these men. 5 stars, and very highly recommended.