Jazz Great Freddie Hubbard Dead at 70

As I'm a better blog reader than I am a news reader of late, I learned of Freddie Hubbard's passing -- on Monday, after a long fight to recover from a heart attack suffered at Thanksgiving time -- via Brother Lyle's post. Sad news indeed. Hubbard's playing style, from tone to attack, made him one of the most influential trumpeters of the second half of the 20th Century. This is a great video of a reunion of Herbie Hancock's Blue Note band from the Maiden Voyage era, playing the classic Cantaloop Island. That's Joe Henderson, not Freddie, in the freeze-frame view of the clip but the video's just too good not to share with you. Even if you don't know Freddie's (and Herbie's) music, you'll recognize the main riff, which was made (even more) popular by the jazz-hop group Us3 in the early '90s. The video ends rather abruptly, as has Mr. Hubbard's life, but features his playing heavily, which is as it should be.

Jam on, Freddie. You'll be missed.