THE LEADER TAPE

from Herbie Mann to Frank Zappa. Freddie Hubbard opens with a beautiful and soft soulful trumpet piece before Dolphy takes the helm on flute. For fans of Dolphy’s later work such as Out to Lunch (1964, Blue Note) this is a less abstract, more melodic take but carries that Dolphy energy still and adds air and foot-tapping energy to the piece wonderfully. Dolphy sounds set back in the recording somewhat but nonetheless shines. Nelson’s tenor solo follows, and it does make me wonder why I don’t know more of him, a deft player with a real soulful style he hands off to the unmistakable Bill Evans like his counterparts taking his wonderful solo in Minor Blues fashion before the crew join in to take us to a soft quiet finish.

With an unexpected female vocal calling “Hoe Down, 1,2,1,2,3,4” followed by the sharp 2-note trumpet call from Hubbard we crash into an incredibly upbeat 44-bar rhythm, somewhat call and