. . . or click on the link here for Audio Player – Freddie Hubbard – Les McCann – Live at the Apollo – 1974 – Gordon Skene Sound Collection.
I originally posted this a few years ago on my previous site, and was reminded by Harold Smiley Davis, who was Les McCann’s drummer for this session, that it was time to post an upgrade and to turn new friends on to what was a pretty stellar night at The Apollo.
Harold indicated to me that this concert hasn’t made the rounds, and was long-thought lost, not only by him but by Jazz collectors and fans of The Apollo. Sometimes we just don’t know what we have, or assume everybody knows about it.
This was a great concert – with both the legendary Hubbard and McCann in top form. The audience is mixed a bit far back on the tape, so it’s hard to tell just how excited they were, but you get an idea here and there that it was a high-voltage night all around. The killer is the encore of Compared To What.
I am guessing when I indicate it’s from 1974 – it may be earlier, but no earlier than 1972 as the MC introduces Freddie Hubbard as a 1972 Grammy winner.
There are a couple of glitches here and there – the original tape was badly damaged when I got it and some judicious surgery had to be performed to smooth things out. But it’s a memorable concert, with 99% of it sounding great.
A stunning night of live Jazz by two of the Jazz idiom’s all time greats. A special thanks to Harold Smiley Davis for tipping me off to the importance of this show, along with a big round of applause for some very cool chops in the drumming department.
Crank it up and enjoy.
