BOOKLET

reviewby Scott Yanow

Freddie Hubbard’s first recording as a leader, Open Sesame features the 22-year-old trumpeter in a quintet with tenor saxophonist Tina Brooks, the up-and-coming pianist McCoy Tyner, bassist Sam Jones and drummer Clifford Jarvis. This set shows that even at this early stage, Hubbard had the potential to be one of the greats. On the ballad “But Beautiful” he shows maturity; other highlights include “Open Sesame,” a driving “All or Nothing at All” and “One Mint Julep.” It’s an impressive start to what would be a very interesting career.

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Open Sesame is the debut album by trumpeter Freddie Hubbard released on the Blue Note label in 1960 as BST 84040. It features performances by Hubbard, Tina Brooks, McCoy Tyner, Sam Jones and Clifford Jarvis. It was remastered in 2001 by Rudy Van Gelder.

The Penguin Guide to Jazz has included Open Sesame as part of a selected “Core Collection,” and has summarized the album as “a great Blue Note set.”[2]

Track listing

“Open Sesame” (Brooks) – 7:11

“But Beautiful” (Burke, Van Heusen) – 6:26

“Gypsy Blue” (Brooks) – 6:28

“All or Nothing at All” (Altman, Lawrence) – 5:36

“One Mint Julep” (Toombs) – 6:04

“Hub’s Nub” (Hubbard) – 6:51

“Open Sesame” [alternate take] (Brooks) – 7:16 Bonus track on CD

“Gypsy Blue” [alternate take] (Brooks) – 7:35 Bonus track on CD

[edit]Personnel

Freddie Hubbard: trumpet

Tina Brooks: tenor saxophone

McCoy Tyner: piano

Sam Jones: bass

Clifford Jarvis: drums

Recorded June 19, 1960

Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs