Recorded 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." ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi