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Review: Freddie Hubbard’s The Artistry on the Acoustic Sounds Series LP

By Freedom251 Team · · 3 min read

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The 2026 Acoustic Sounds Series edition of Freddie Hubbard’s The Artistry of Freddie Hubbard is a 180-gram Verve/Impulse! LP mastered by Matthew Lutthans at The Mastering Lab from the original analog tape, according to retailer Acoustic Sounds. The documented specifications make it a clearly described reissue; they do not, by themselves, prove it sounds better than an older pressing or another format. The album’s appeal is in its five-track program and a strong sextet led by Hubbard, with Curtis Fuller, John Gilmore, Tommy Flanagan, Art Davis, and Louis Hayes.

What this reissue is

This is a 2026 Acoustic Sounds Series reissue of an Impulse! album recorded on July 2, 1962, at Rudy Van Gelder’s studio and originally released in 1963. Verve’s product page credits Bob Thiele as producer and describes Hubbard leading a sextet. The edition is listed by Acoustic Sounds as product AIMP 216438, UPC 602488213530.

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The series is a Verve project: its store page describes transfers from analog tapes, remastered 180-gram vinyl, and deluxe gatefold packaging. For this particular LP, Acoustic Sounds names the mastering engineer, pressing plant, and jacket printer, making the production chain unusually easy to assess from published specifications.

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Why the session is worth a closer look

The lineup puts Hubbard’s trumpet alongside Curtis Fuller’s trombone and John Gilmore’s tenor saxophone, with Tommy Flanagan on piano, Art Davis on bass, and Louis Hayes on drums. It is a compact ensemble with three horns and a rhythm section, allowing the program to move between familiar material and Hubbard compositions without becoming a showcase for the leader alone.

#1 Best Overall
The Artistry of Freddie Hubbard (Verve Acoustic Sounds Series)[180g LP]
  • Recorded on July 2, 1962 at Rudy Van Gelder's studio and released in 1963 on Impulse! Records, The Artistry of Freddie Hubbard captures the trumpeter at a pivotal early stage, showcasing his technical brilliance, warmth, and rhythmic command within a versatile ensemble of Art Davis, Curtis Fuller, John Gilmore, Louis Hayes and Tommy Flanagan

The sequence comprises five tracks, with three on Side A and two on Side B. Universal Music Italia lists the following durations:

Side Track Duration
A “Caravan” 7:29
A “Bob’s Place” 10:04
A “Happy Times” 4:32
B “Summertime” 10:10
B “The 7th Day” 10:49

Verve identifies “The 7th Day” among Hubbard’s originals and “Caravan” as part of the standards repertoire. The independent ecoustics review by Mark Smotroff also singles out “Caravan,” “Summertime,” “The 7th Day,” and “Happy Times.” That is the reviewer’s selection, not a claim that the tracks were independently tested here.

What is documented about the vinyl edition

Acoustic Sounds lists the LP as 180 grams and specifies that Matthew Lutthans at The Mastering Lab mastered it from the original analog tape. The retailer credits Quality Record Pressings (QRP) with pressing the record, Stoughton Printing with the old-style tip-on gatefold jacket, and Chad Kassem with series supervision.

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The “AAA” wording appears in the edition’s promotional framing and the independent review, but the specific retailer statement is narrower: mastering from the original analog tape. That supports describing the source and mastering stage; it does not establish that every part of the production chain remained analog. Nor do 180-gram weight, a named pressing plant, or an analog-tape source alone demonstrate sonic superiority.

Smotroff’s ecoustics review gives a positive assessment of the reissue’s production values and packaging. Those are the reviewer’s judgments; the published specifications above are the verifiable details readers can use to compare editions.

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How to compare it with another edition or format

The practical comparison is not simply “new versus old.” Older Impulse! pressings vary by edition and condition, while this reissue has a published mastering and manufacturing description. Acoustic Sounds also lists a Hybrid Stereo SACD as an alternative format. The available information does not establish which format sounds better, so a sensible choice depends on the format you collect, playback equipment, condition, and current price.

Rank #4
The Artistry of Bill Evans, Vol 2
  • Format: Book
  • Instrument: Piano
  • Genre: Jazz
  • Category: Piano - Personality Book
  • Contributors: Bill Evans / transcr. Bob Hinz
  • Compared with an older LP: check the specific pressing, condition, and asking price rather than assuming all original copies are alike.
  • Compared by production: this edition’s stated details are original analog tape as the mastering source, Lutthans at The Mastering Lab, QRP pressing, and a Stoughton tip-on gatefold.
  • Compared with the SACD: Acoustic Sounds lists a Hybrid Stereo SACD, but a format listing is not evidence of a sonic winner.
  • Compared by value: check current retailer inventory and marketplace prices. Prices cited in Smotroff’s article were point-in-time examples and are not a current price comparison.

Who should consider this LP?

This reissue is a natural option for listeners who want this Impulse! session on vinyl and value a clearly specified analog-tape mastering source, a named pressing plant, and a gatefold jacket. The musical case is the varied five-track set and its six-player lineup; the edition case is the documented production information. Readers who prioritize a format other than LP can compare the listed Hybrid Stereo SACD, while collectors weighing an older pressing should judge that copy on its own edition details, condition, and price.

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See the The Artistry of Freddie Hubbard Acoustic Sounds Series LP at Verve Record Store, or check the 180-gram LP listing at Acoustic Sounds. Availability and prices can change.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 2
Bestseller No. 4
The Artistry of Bill Evans, Vol 2
The Artistry of Bill Evans, Vol 2
Format: Book; Instrument: Piano; Genre: Jazz; Category: Piano - Personality Book; Contributors: Bill Evans / transcr. Bob Hinz
$19.95

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Acoustic Sounds SeriesFreddie HubbardImpulse! RecordsjazzThe Artistry of Freddie Hubbardvinyl reissues

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