Trumpeter Freddie Hubbard burst out of the gates taking the jazz world by storm with his Blue Note debut Open Sesame in 1960. Within 14 months he had recorded three more hard bop classics—Goin’ Up, Hub Cap, and Ready For Freddie—each one a showcase for his dynamic playing. Recorded in April 1961, Hub Cap was the first of his Blue Note dates that also highlighted Hubbard’s growing skill as a composer, with four of the album’s six pieces coming from his pen including the hard-charging title track, the alluring, richly-textured “Luana,” and the swaggering shuffle of the swinging “Osie Mae.” Bringing the music to life was a sympatico sextet with trombonist Julian Priester and tenor saxophonist Jimmy Heath joining Hubbard on the frontline backed by a rhythm section of pianist Cedar Walton, bassist Larry Ridley, and drummer Philly Joe Jones.
