HANK MOBLEY レコード& CD

Review: By 1960, Georgia-born tenor saxophonist Mobley was at the height of his powers, crafting a trilogy of hard bop masterpiecesiSoul Station, Roll Call and Workout. Roll Call, the middle entry, finds Mobley leading an inspired quintet featuring the young and fiery Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, alongside the rock-solid Soul Station rhythm section of pianist Wynton Kelly, bassist Paul Chambers and the explosive Art Blakey on drums. The result is a hard bop stunner, bursting with energy, interplay and lyrical phrasing. This reissue opens with the dynamic title track, a minor-key powerhouse that jumps out of the speakers, pushing each musician to deliver their best. Mobley and Hubbard's chemistry is electrifying, their solos crackling with urgency. The swaggering 'My Groove Your Move' follows, built on a confident, swinging groove, while 'A Baptist Beat' channels the deep, soulful call-and-response tradition of the black church. A second take of the latter further showcases the group's enthusiasm and spontaneity. The album's only standard, 'The More I See You', is a sublime moment of restraint, with Hubbard's use of the harmon mute adding a delicate, smoky touch. Mobley's playing here epitomises his gift for melodic improvisationisubtle yet deeply expressive. His warm, bluesy tone and sophisticated phrasing made him one of the most lyrical saxophonists of his era. Even decades later, Roll Call remains a cornerstone of hard bop.

Review: Recorded in 1967, this jazz classic is a quintessential hard bop album that proves why the tenor saxophonist's signature sound was so influential. The seven-piece band includes alto saxophonist James Spaulding, trumpeter Lee Morgan, guitarist Sonny Greenwich, pianist Cedar Walton, bassist Walter Booker and drummer Billy Higgins and the ensemble's tight chemistry and individual virtuosity shine throughout the album with Mobley's smooth yet dynamic saxophone leading the way. A blend of intricate solos and rich ensemble passages, Third Season is a standout example of the era's high-calibre jazz and one that captures the spirit of the late 60s perfectly.

Review: Hank Mobley's A Slice of the Top, recorded in 1966, is Mobley's nod to Birth of the Cool, blending hard bop with Duke Pearson's brilliant arrangements. With an expanded octet featuring unique additions like euphonium and tuba alongside a stellar lineupiJames Spaulding on alto sax, Lee Morgan on trumpet, McCoy Tyner on piano, Bob Cranshaw on bass and Billy Higgins on drumsithe album is a richly layered experience. This Tone Poet Vinyl Edition, produced by Joe Harley and mastered by Kevin Gray from original tapes, arrives on 180g vinyl in a deluxe gatefold tip-on jacket.

Review: Hank Mobley's Soul Station, recorded in 1960, stands as a defining moment in his prolific Blue Note career. By this time, Mobley had already established himself, yet this album brought his lyrical tenor saxophone playing to new heights. Accompanied by a stellar rhythm sectioniWynton Kelly on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Art Blakey on drumsiMobley shines as the sole horn in the quartet, allowing his smooth yet robust style to take center stage. The album opens with the breezy standard 'Remember' and swiftly moves into Mobley's original compositions like 'Dig Dis' and the title track, both drenched in bluesy, soulful grooves. Tracks like 'This I Dig of You' and 'Split Feelin's' showcase Mobley's deft ability to balance catchy melodies with intricate improvisation. Critics often underestimated his relaxed style, but Soul Station reveals the depth of his talent. All-analogue and beautifully remastered for this Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition, Soul Station endures as a timeless hard bop masterpiece, capturing Mobley's distinctive sound at its peak.

Review: Tenor saxophonist Hank Mobley's peak in the early 1960s produced a series of hard bop classics including Soul Station, Roll Call, Workout, No Room For Squares, and The Turnaround. Recorded in 1961, Workout showcased Mobley's prowess alongside guitarist Grant Green, pianist Wynton Kelly, bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Philly Joe Jones. Featuring four dynamic Mobley originals and one standard, the album inspired vigorous improvisations. This Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original tapes, presents a stereo, all-analog experience on 180g vinyl for maximum enjoyment.

Review: Hank Mobley might not be so well known among the greats of saxophonic jazz, but that probably boils down to him making No Room For Squares. Indeed, only the coolest of the menthol-cool were permitted access to this album and Mobley's performances at the time of its release; this was undoubtedly a self-selecting process ensured by the garnering of some of the hottest talents of the day on band duties, including Herbie Hancock on piano, Donald Byrd on trumpet, and Butch Warren on bass. Moving like an effortless meandering current slinking downstream, the six tracks on this vinyl reissue put on effortless instrumental airs.

Review: Few jazz saxophonists were as majestic as Hank Mobley. He had a unique sound that sat in between the rawness of John Coltrane and the smoothness of Stan Getz and released a number of now-classic albums. Soul Station has already had the Tone Poet Series treatment and next up to get remastered and come on new audiophile vinyl is A Caddy For Daddy. He had already been a But Note artist for some 10 years when he recorded this one in 1965. It finds him alongside a first-class sextet with Lee Morgan on trumpet, Bob Cranshaw on bass, McCoy Tyner on piano, Billy Higgins on drums and Curtis Fuller on trombone.

Review: Hank Mobley was a magnificent jazz saxophonist who struck a smooth tone somewhere in between the snarl of John Coltrane and the dulcet purr of Stan Getz. This album was originally recorded in 1957 and released as The Hank Mobley Quintet Featuring Sonny Clark in 1984. It features Kenny Dorham on trumpet, Sonny Clark on piano, Jimmy Rowser on bass and Art Taylor on drums, and it serves as a perfect, mellow trip through the hard bop era. It's also long overdue a repress after last being available in limited quantities back when the 1984 issue first came around.

Review: Blue Jazz's on going Tone Poet Series - which is about reissuing classic jazz on heavyweight, audiophile quality vinyl - throws out another gem here with the Hank Mobley classic Soul Station. Hank started out as a pianist before moving to the tenor sax aged 16. He put plenty of emotion and intensity into every note he played and during the years 1955-1970 he fronted more than 25 Blue Note albums as well as being a sideman on many others. This record captures him at the peak of his powers with a lyrical playing style and length, passionate solos.