This i Dig of You

Part of Blue Note's quality series of artist samplers, The Best of Hank Mobley surveys the great tenor saxophonist's prime stretch from 1955-1965. Originally overshadowed by the likes of Joe Henderson, Wayne Shorter, and, of course, Coltrane, Mobley nevertheless gained the respect of his peers, thanks to his richly fluid phrasing and smooth, caramel tone – in lieu of trying to impress you, he seduced you slowly from afar. And while one is advised to dive in directly with any one of his Blue Note discs – especially Soul Station, No Room for Squares, and A Slice of the Top – this ten-track overview still works well as a launching pad. Backed by a stellar array of "Blue Note" regulars like Lee Morgan, Curtis Fuller, Billy Higgins, Freddie Hubbard, and Horace Silver, Mobley ranges effortlessly from early hard bop favorites ("Funk in a Deep Freeze") to mature, solo-rich material from the mid-'60s ("The Turnaround"). In between, there are two stunning originals from his banner year of 1960 ("This I Dig of You," "Take Your Pick") and one of the best of his several bossa nova numbers ("Recado Bossa Nova"). For listeners who just want a taste, this best-of collection will do the trick just fine.

Massimo Faraò studied with Maestro Flavio Crivelli and began his career collaborating with musicians from the Genoa Area, especially with the bassist Piero Leveratto. In 1993, he was invited to the US to play with Red Holloway and Albert “Tootie” Heath on a West Coast tour. In the same year, he founded the “We love Jazz” workshop, now one of the biggest events in Europe for jazz teaching.

With a title such as Bop Lives, it is a bit surprising to realize that there are actually no bop standards on this CD. However the playing by altoist Greg Abate (whose sound recalls Phil Woods and Richie Cole) is certainly in the bop tradition; he is a heated and frequently exciting improviser. Trumpeter Claudio Roditi is aboard for five of the nine selections and is a perfect frontline partner for Abate. Of the repertoire, three tunes are by the leader and there is one apiece from Roditi, pianist Kenny Barron (who leads a rhythm section also including bassist Rufus Reid and drummer Ben Riley), Mark Morganelli, Hank Mobley ("This I Dig Of You"), Thelonious Monk and Kurt Weill (a nearly 11-minute rendition of "Speak Low"). The well-rounded program features Greg Abate at his best and this uncomplicated but generally chancetaking bop set is easily recommended.

Hank Mobley - Eight Classic Albums (2013) {4CD Set Real Gone Jazz RGJCD262 rec 1955-1960}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 1.81 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 713 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 21 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1955-60, 2013 Real Gone Jazz | RGJCD262 | Digitally Remastered & Enhanced
Jazz / Hard Bop / Mainstream Jazz / Saxophone

Four CD set containing eight albums from the Jazz legend. Includes the albums Hank Mobley Quartet, Tenor Conclave, Hank Mobley All Stars, Hank, Hank Mobley Quintet, Hank Mobley Sextet, Soul Station and Roll Call. With no disrespect toward Hawk, Bean, Prez, Trane, Rollins, Getz, Shorter, Henderson, Dexter and Brecker, Hank Mobley is the tenor player I listen to more than any other (were Sonny Stitt exclusively a tenor player, his recordings would be a close second, with Harold Land, Charlie Rouse, Oliver Nelson and Paul Gonsalves in the 3rd spot). Mobley doesn't so much "impress" as "seduce" the listener with ceaselessly melodic, lyrical, soulful inventions each time out. He was no "innovator" or trailblazer. Nor, like so many "showier" tenors, did he introduce "artifacts" into his sound–wobbles, growls, squeals and screeches, etc., approaches as common during the '30s and '40s as in the adventurous experimentation of modal and free players in the '60s and beyond.