HSO Pays Tribute to Jazz Trumpeter Freddie Hubbard

Brian Lynch. Photo courtesy of HSO.

The Hartford Symphony Orchestra 2012-2013 Jazz and Strings Series will begin with a tribute to legendary trumpeter Freddie Hubbard at First Light: A Tribute to Freddie Hubbard on Friday, November 2, 2012 at 8:00 p.m. at the Theater of the Performing Arts at the Learning Corridor in Hartford.

Featuring Grammy award winning trumpeter Brian Lynch on Hubbard’s solo lines, other performers for this concert will include Jazz and Strings Artistic Director and HSO principal timpanist Gene Bozzi, HSO bassist Rick Rozie, frequent HSO arranger and pianist Walter Gwardyak, members of the HSO string section, and dance majors from the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts.

Freddie Hubbard was one of the greatest hard-bop trumpeters of his era and was perhaps one of the greatest trumpeters ever to play in the jazz idiom (and arguably the most influential). He launched into mainstream popularity with his release of one of the first soul-jazz crossover albums “First Light.” The HSO will recreate some of Don Sebesky's masterful arrangements for classical and jazz instruments, such as “Lonely Town” and “First Light,” as well as some of Hubbard’s hard bop classics, including "Arietis" and "Bolivia." To highlight the unique rhythmic elements of Hubbard’s style, the HSO and Lynch will be joined by more than a dozen dance majors from the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts on “First Light” and “Sky Dive.”

A respected insider and emergent legend within both the hardcore straight ahead and Latin Jazz communities, Grammy Award© Winner Brian Lynch is as comfortable negotiating the complexities of clave with Afro-Caribbean pioneer Eddie Palmieri as he is swinging through advanced harmony with bebop maestro Phil Woods. He has been a valued collaborator with jazz artists such as Benny Golson, Toshiko Akiyoshi, and Charles McPherson; Latin music icons as diverse as Hector LaVoe and Lila Downs; and pop luminaries such as Prince. His talents have been recognized by Downbeat Critics (#3 Trumpet, 2011) and Readers Polls; highly rated reviews for his work in Downbeat, Jazziz and Jazz Times; 2005 and 2007 Grammy award nominations, and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, Chamber Music America, and Meet The Composer.

Info and tickets:(860) 244-2999 or visit www.hartfordsymphony.org.