Rose Tattoo

by Jason AnkenyRecorded for the Japanese label Baystate and long unavailable outside of the Asian market, Rose Tattoo remains one of Freddie Hubbard's most obscure sessions, but admirers of the trumpeter's early-'80s return to his musical roots will find much to appreciate here. Backed by pianist Kenny Barron, drummer Joe Chambers, bassist Cecil McBee, and tenorist Ricky Ford, Hubbard maintains a serene, feather-light approach across the set, often muting his trumpet to further bolster the mellow groove -- his solos float with the beauty and elegance of monarch butterflies, soaring in and out of standards like the opening "When You Wish Upon a Star" and "Embraceable You."