I was excited about this album when it was released. Freddie Hubbard has been my favorite trumpet player for years, and new material from him seemed to be a god send. I chose not to listen to the people warning me about his serious chop issues, and his bout with cancer. Instead I looked back fondly on his earlier recordings, thinking what it would be like to have another masterpiece in my collection. Unfortunately, I was much too hopeful. While the horn arrangements are absolutely brilliant, Freddie is a shadow of his former self. His tone is weak, and he sounds shakey throughout the range of the horn. He sounds more like a bad Freddie Hubbard impersonator rather than the virtuosic master that he used to be. If he could climb back to the level he was at before his chop disaster, it would be a true benefit to society. Much to my chagrin, this album does not accomplish this feat.