Pribek

Freddie Hubbard has a new record, “On the Real Side”.

Over the years, I have listened to Freddie a lot. He was always known as a guy that played harder, faster, higher and longer than other trumpet players. A player’s player. To me though, it never just about virtuosity with Freddie Hubbard, I think he’s a very musical guy.

I did not realize that the reason Freddie was absent from the scene was a case of “chop trouble”. And, due to my continuing experience with M.S. and my own chop trouble, I’m always interested in hearing how a musician, who has lost some facility, has figured out how to deal with it.

Decades of Herculean trumpet work have taken their toll on Freddie’s chops. In late 1992 his top lip popped and later became infected. A biopsy was taken and cancer was ruled out, but Hubbard was left with upper lip tissue so sore he was unable to play with the same slashing attack and killer abandon he was famous for. “It’s really something when you lose your chops like that, “ says Hubbard. “You feel like a motherless child. You can’t do it like you used to. But now I’m at that age when I have to think more about what I’m going play instead of just running all over the horn. You gotta play with your soul instead of your chops.”…

Back in the day, I used to just pick up it up and start blowing like crazy. But I’ve learned that the trumpet is like a car in the winter. You can’t just jump in it and drive off. You gotta warm it up first.”

Good stuff there Mr. Hubbard. Actually good advice for any musician.

I also found this site, that has some great Freddie Hubbard quotes as well as a discography that covers his remarkable recording career extensively. It’s where I found this applicable gem.

I quit drinking, so I can think clear. When you have chop trouble, drinking doesn’t help the healing process.
Freddie Hubbard

Good to see you are still in the game Freddie, I’m and looking forward to hearing you “play with your soul”.

Is he turning in to Sean Connery?

Remember “The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway”?

Gabriel is involved in a new website, The Filter. From the LA Times.

“We’ve all sat there at the computer with muscle fatigue in our thumbs and faced with so much information without focus,” said Gabriel, a partner in the new website. “Getting the good stuff without the grief, that is the dream. And I’m not talking just about music, I mean everything. Not just a disc jockey, but a life jockey.”

TheFilter.com has a beta launch today and goes public in May to join a wide and churning group of recommendation engines. (Many track only music preferences; the Filter aspires to add film to the mix.)

Life Jockey, sure Pete. Well I went over to thefilter.com and signed up. Why? I don’t know, I’m not really a consumer in a traditional sense so, I guess I just want to see the recommends. See, if it actually comes up with stuff I like. And, like everything else, it isn’t really a new idea but, if it works better, I’m interested in seeing it in action. And, Peter Gabriel is involved.

This message was is from the site.

We have been busy building our new website and we’re pleased to announce that it’s nearly ready. Approx 320 cups of tea between us and we’ll be there.

Anyway, about two cups of tea ago, they sent me an e-mail saying they will send me an e-mail so, I’ll let you know.