"Fantasy in D" is a composition by pianist Cedar Walton, recorded on Freddie Hubbard's 1971 CTI album First Light. The piece is structured as a twelve-bar form, though it departs from conventional blues conventions in its harmonic and melodic approach. As the title suggests, the composition is centered in the key of D, and its character leans toward a reflective, exploratory sensibility rather than a hard-driving blowing vehicle. Walton, a prolific composer known for hard bop staples such as "Bolivia," "Mosaic," and "Holy Land," contributed this piece to the First Light session, which was produced by Creed Taylor with arrangements by Don Sebesky. The recording features Hubbard on flugelhorn alongside Hubert Laws on flute, with the two soloists trading the spotlight over Walton's framework. The tune benefits from the characteristic CTI production values of the era, including orchestral accompaniment that frames the improvised passages. "Fantasy in D" is not among Walton's more widely known compositions and has not entered the commonly performed jazz repertoire, but it reflects his ability to craft distinctive vehicles for improvisation. Within the context of First Light, the piece provides a compositional contrast to the album's other material, offering a concise structure that highlights melodic interplay between the featured soloists.
