Hank Mobley

Hank Mobley – Hank Mobley (1957/2020)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 34:42 minutes | 1,33 GB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Blue Note Records

Although his is a rather less charming sound than that of a John Coltrane or a Sonny Rollins, Hank Mobley is still a master of the tenor saxophone. The famous critic Leonard Feathers, the author of many album liner notes, would describe him “the middleweight champion of tenor sax”. With daring solos, often of pleasing complexity, this Georgian who grew up in New Jersey was one of the great standard bearers for that unique hard bop that rang out on several Blue Note albums in the 50s and 60s. It was on this famous label that Mobley, a marathon runner of the recording studio, put out thirty records or more. On this record in particular, the then-27-year-old jazzman is accompanied by Bill Hardman on the trumpet, Curtis Porter on the saxophone, Sonny Clark on the piano, Paul Chambers on double bass, and Art Taylor on drums. A flawless session (as were almost all the Blue Note productions of that era), recorded in a single day (23 June 1957) throughout which Hank Mobley (one year on from leaving the Jazz Messengers, which he had founded with Horace Silver and Art Blakey) carefully ensures that his former bandmates stay focussed on a soothing swing. Across the following decade, with masterpieces like Soul Station (1960), Workout (1961), No Room For Squares (1963) and The Turnaround! (1965), Mobley took another step with an even more original and unique style and sidemen of quite a different calibre (Lee Morgan, Donald Byrd, Andrew Hill, Herbie Hancock, Philly Joe Jones). While we wait for more, this eponymous Hank Mobley and its superb sleeve make for a fine rediscovery. – Marc Zisman

(more…)

Hank Mobley – Workout (1961/2014)
FLAC (tracks) 24-bit/192 kHz | Time – 40:22 minutes | 1,56 GB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Master, Official Digital Download | Source: HDTracks |  © Blue Note Records

Workout is the 1961 hard bop album released by tenor saxophonist Hank Mobley under Blue Note. The record features jazz aficionados Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers, Grant Green and Philly Joe Jones. Workout features “The Best Things in Life Are Free” and “Three Coins in the Fountain”. (more…)

Hank Mobley – The Turnaround! (1965/2014)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 40:31 minutes | 1,39 GB | Genre: Jazz
Official Digital Download – Source: HDTracks.com | Digital Booklet | @ Blue Note Records
Recorded March 7, 1963 and February 5, 1965 at Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs, NJ.

The Turnaround! is jazz tenor saxophonist Hank Mobley’s 1965 Blue Note release. The hard bop, soul jazz instrumentalist and composer collaborated with some of the ’60s most proficient jazz musicians on this release, including Herbie Hancock, Philly Joe Jones, Paul Chambers, Freddie Hubbard and Donald Byrd, among others.

(more…)