Jazz Trumpet Master Freddie Hubbard Dies At 70

His name was attached to Grammy wins and jazz greats like Monk, Davis, Coltrane, Coleman and Rollins. His trumpet playing influenced the likes of Wynton Marsalis, who called his trumpet playing 'exuberant.' Sadly, the jazz community is mourning the death of trumpet great Freddie Hubbard today, who passed away at Sherman Oaks Hospital at the age of 70.

Born on April 7, 1938 in Indianapolis, IN Hubbard wher he grew up playing an assortment of brass instruments - Mellophone, French Horn to name a few. Hubbard moved to NYC in 1958 where he soon was jamming with John Coltrane. "I almost went crazy," Hubbard told Down Beat in a 1995 interview. "I mean, here is a 20-year-old kid practicing with John Coltrane. He helped me out a lot, and we worked several jobs together." Two years later Hubbard was laying down his earliest recording for Blue Note. Songs like "Goin Up" and "Open Sesame."

With more than 300 recordings in his repetoire, including back-up on Herbie Hancock's "Maiden Voyage," Coleman's "Free Jazz," and Coltrane's "Ascension," Hubbard's own albums, the post popular - 1961's "Ready for Freddie," and the jazz fusion albums 1970's "Red Clay" and 1971's "First Light," which one the aforementioned Grammy, were what he was most known for.

The '80s were perhaps Hubbards darkest marred by heavy drinking. In the 90's he toured heavily but slowed down when he suffered a lip infection. Hubbard had been hosptialized since the day before Thanksgiving, after he suffered a severe heart attack.

"I played a very loose, elastic style of playing," Hubbard told the AP in June. "I used a lot of slurs, different moves. I advise any young trumpeter not to do what I did, because that style could be hazardous to your health."

Hubbard's greatness was recognized in 2006 with the National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master, aka the nation's highest jazz honor.