Keep Your Soul Together (1973)is jazz trumpeter Freddie Hubbards fifth studio album released on Creed Taylor’s CTI label. The album features Hubbard alongside an ensemble that includes Junior Cook on tenor sax, George Cables on keyboards, Aurell Ray on guitar, Kent Brinkley or Ron Carter on bass, Ralph Penland on drums, and Juno Lewis on percussion. The albums sound, though occasionally funky, is rooted in creative jazz, showcasing Hubbard in peak form across four of his original compositions.

Though some writers have often underrated Hubbards CTI recordings, mistaking them for his later, more commercial output on Columbia, this particular album stands out as a testament to his ingenuity. Hubbards blend of bravado and subtlety shines through, as does his ability to fuse technical mastery with emotional depth. His ability to maintain a consistent, rich tone across both slow and fast passages placed him among the greatest trumpeters in jazz history.

Influenced by legends such as Miles Davis and Clifford Brown, Hubbard nonetheless crafted a sound entirely his own, becoming one of the boldest and most inventive trumpeters of the bop, hard-bop, and post-bop eras. His impact on jazz extended far beyond his solo recordings, as he collaborated with many of the genre’s greats, leaving behind a powerful legacy.

Keep Your Soul Together is available on audiophile pink vinyl.