On Hub Cap, his third effort as a leader, Freddie Hubbard sticks to the tried-and-true hard bop formula, which is something of a mixed blessing. There's no question that much of this music is enjoyable, but it's not quite up to the standards of its two predecessors…

Originally recorded in 1965, "Soothsayer" might be one of those underrated classics that you only know about. Recorded with a superb line up and featuring powerful and emotional interplay between Shorter and the rest of sextet, "Soothsayer" is a magical session not to be missed. “Angola” and the title track feature some bombastic sections from Shorter, Williams and Hubbard. While “Lady Day” is a lovely and romantic tribute to Billie Holiday executed with sublime musicianship. "Soothsayer" was one of a series of albums Shorter had recorded during a highly prolific period in the mid-sixties. Along with Shorter playing in Miles Davis’ group and various other factors, The album's official release didn't happen until the late '70s. But it is still considered an excellent document of Wayne Shorter immense vision and creativity.

"Red Clay" is a soul/funk-influenced hard bop album recorded in 1970 by jazz trumpeter Freddie Hubbard. It was his first album on Creed Taylor's CTI label and marked a shift toward the soul-jazz fusion sounds that would dominate his recordings in the later part of the decade. It was the album that established Taylor's vision for the music that was to appear on his labels in the decade ahead. It is Hubbard's seventeenth album.

"Out to Lunch", Dolphy’s sole recording for Blue Note represented a pinnacle moment in avant-garde jazz. Poised with intriguing improvisation, the compelling listen would become a staple in the jazz canon. The album made a bold statement with its stunning instrumentation, ranging from alto sax to bass clarinet. This essential recording included a breathtaking tribute to Thelonious Monk.

Captured live at San Francisco’s historic Keystone Korner Jazz Club in 1980, trumpet master Freddie Hubbard was at the top of his game. Hubbard is joined by an all-star cast, who perform his most challenging repertoire. This is a funky, sophisticated and melodic outing that is sure to please Hubbard fans and audiophiles. The album features previously unreleased material. It also includes the only known recording of Hubbard performing Coltrane’s massive hit “Giant Steps”.

"Lush Life" was originally recorded in 1967 but was not released until 1980 in Japan under the title "Sweet Slumber", due to the success of Donaldson's album "Alligator Bogaloo" (also recorded in 1967). Featuring musicians such as Freddie Hubbard, Garnett Brown, Jerry Dodgion, Wayne Shorter, Pepper Adams, McCoy Tyner, Ron Carter and Al Harewood, the album was very well-received when it finally was released.

"Empyrean Isles" is Herbie Hancock's fourth album. It debuted two of his most popular compositions, "One Finger Snap" and "Cantaloupe Island". Hancock pushes the boundaries of hard bop on this album, playing with elements of soul, post-modal jazz, traditional bop, and experimental jazz.

The Blues and the Abstract Truth is an album by American composer and jazz saxophonist Oliver Nelson recorded in February 1961. It remains Nelson's most acclaimed album and features a lineup of notable musicians: Freddie Hubbard, Eric Dolphy, Bill Evans, Paul Chambers and Roy Haynes. Baritone saxophonist George Barrow does not take solos but remains a key feature in the subtle voicings of Nelson's arrangements.

Miles Davis had publicly called him a madman. Leonard Bernstein found him, for his part, completely awesome. Few were those that didn’t have a definitive opinion on Ornette Coleman. Some kind of outlaw who preferred playing his own compositions rather than jazz classics, the American saxophonist also developed harmolodics, a theory uniting harmonics and melody. This box of ten discs compiles one of the most important era in the career of his author. Between 1959 and 1961, he released six studio albums for the Atlantic label. Six albums that are present here and spiced up with alternative takes and various bonuses, all of this of course impeccably remastered by John Webber. Albums included: The Shape Of Jazz To Come (1959), Change Of The Century (1959), This Is Our Music (1960), Free Jazz: A Collective Improvisation (1960), Ornette! (1961) and Ornette On Tenor (1961), and the compilations The Art Of Improvisers (1970), Twins (1971), To Whom Who Keeps A Record (1975) and The Ornette Coleman Legacy (1993).

"First Light" is the nineteenth album by jazz trumpeter Freddie Hubbard. Recorded in 1971, it features string arrangements by Don Sebesky. It was his third album released on Creed Taylor's CTI label and features performances by Hubbard, Herbie Hancock, Eric Gale, George Benson, Ron Carter, Jack DeJohnette, Airto Moreira and Richard Wyands. The album is part of a loose trilogy including his two previous records at the time, Red Clay and Straight Life. First Light won a 1972 Grammy Award for "Best Jazz Performance by a Group".

"Keep Your Soul Together" is an album recorded in 1973 by jazz trumpeter Freddie Hubbard. It was his fifth studio album released on Creed Taylor's CTI label and features performances by Hubbard, Junior Cook, George Cables, Aurell Ray, Kent Brinkley, Ron Carter, Ralph Penland and Juno Lewis.

"Giant Box" is a double album by American arranger/conductor and composer Don Sebesky featuring performances recorded in 1973 and released on the CTI label. The Allmusic review states "This may have been Creed Taylor's most ambitious single project… Thankfully the musicmaking lives up to the billing. Everything that gave CTI its distinctive sound and identity is here – the classical adaptations, elaborate orchestrations and structuring, pop-tune covers, plenty of room for the star soloists to stretch out in a combo format… Giant Box still ranks as a sensational coup and a reminder of how potent CTI was at its peak".

"High Blues Pressure" is the thirteenth album by trumpeter Freddie Hubbard. It was his second release on the Atlantic label and features performances by Hubbard, James Spaulding, Bennie Maupin, Herbie Lewis, Roman "Dog" Broadus, Weldon Irvine, Kenny Barron, Freddie Waits, Louis Hayes, Howard Johnson, and Kiane Zawadi.

Kenneth Earl Burrell is an American jazz guitarist mostly known for his work on the Blue Note label. He has cited jazz guitarists Charlie Christian and Django Reinhardt as influences, along with blues guitarists T-Bone Walker and Muddy Waters. Furthermore, Jimi Hendrix has cited Burrel as an influence. "God Bless The Child" is his 1971's album for CTI label. This is Burrell at his level best as a player to be sure, but also as a composer and as a bandleader. Magnificent.

"Double Take", a collaborative album featuring trumpeters Freddie Hubbard and Woody Shaw, was originally released by Blue Note in 1985. The record includes original works by Hubbard and Shaw as well as covers by Lee Morgan, Clifford Brown and others. Double Take has appearances by musicians: Cecil McBee, Carl Allen, Mulgrew Miller and Kenny Garrett.