Originally released in 1970, Red Clay is one of Freddie Hubbard's best albums, and is an undisputed classic from the exceptional early-‘70s CTI catalog. Fusing jazz, soul, funk, and a touch of the blues, the legendary trumpeter is joined by some of the best session players in the game, including Herbie Hancock on keys, Lenny White on drums, Ron Carter on bass, with Joe Henderson and Stanley Turrentine on saxophone. While not as trippy or rock oriented as Miles' Bitches Brew (released the same year), it is still a progression of style, pushing the envelope of jazz into new directions but without the superfluous side effects that plagued some artists in the oncoming fusion era. Produced by Creed Taylor, it sounds as original and exciting 40 years later as it did upon its release. Golden-era hip-hop fans will recognize several key samples (by A Tribe Called Quest, among others), and hardcore jazz heads will be especially amped up for a previously unreleased live version of the title track, an 18-minute epic with turns from George Benson, Johnny Hammond, and Billy Cobham.