Rare 1973 Freddie Hubbard Quintet concert from a rural church released on vinyl for the first time

Live from a cult jazz society in the Belgian countryside.

A remote hinterland of Europe might not seem like a hotspot for jazz, but from the 1950s through today, the Hnita-Jazz Club in Heist-op-den-Berg has proved otherwise.

Founded by Juul Anthonissen, who ran the club from 1955 until his death in 2008 when his son took Peter took over, this society for jazz lovers has consistently attracted luminaries of the music world past and present for over sixty years, including Sun Ra, Chet Baker, Charles Mingus, and Shabaka Hutchings.

On 10th March 1973, the Freddie Hubbard Quintet journeyed to the (even smaller) town of Zonderschot for an event organised by Hnita-Jazz Club, in Our Lady Queen of Peace church.

Originally recorded by Belgian National Television (BRT/VRT), and never made publicly available, the tapes have been restored and remastered for this first ever vinyl release.

“This concert finds (Hubbard) at his swaggering best, with a backing that includes Michael Career on drums and Junior Cook on Sax, this is a great discovery which I hope you will enjoy as much as me,” shares Gilles Peterson about his “trumpet hero”.

A unique time capsule of astral jazz frequencies, from a little-known music Mecca in Europe, the LP includes standouts ‘First Light’ and ‘Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey’, from Hubbard’s 1971 CTI album First Light.

Freddie Hubbard Quintet 1973: Live in Zonderschot LP, limited to 500 copies worldwide, is out now on Cortizona Records.

Listen to snippets from the album, order a copy via email and check out the track list below.