The other curious thing about the Donald Byrd album is just how under-par Hank Mobley is on this record. After hearing Mobley on Kenny Dorham's "Whistle stop" I have been listening to him with more interest. It is intriguing just how erratic he could be on disc. My first encounter with him was on his own "Roll call" which is another mundane, Hard Bop session that I don't feel is too remarkable. Mobley is outshone by the young Freddie Hubbard but, if you want to hear the sophomore Mr H, then the best tenor combination was with Tina Brooks, in my opinion. The writing on "Roll call" is particularly lazy and I think this is a major short-coming with his output.
That said, the latest Blue Note I acquired is "Workout" which is a pretty mainstream record where Mobley is very much playing in the same territory / groove as on some of the tracks he made with Miles on "Someday my prince will come" which is uneven to say the least. However, I think Mobley does everything right on "Workout" and this is a really good, solid record. Much of the appeal comes from the rhythm section and I am convinced that Philly Joe Jones' drumming is instrumental to pushing Mobley to play better. It also has Wynton Kelly on board and I am increasingly finding his presence to be a significant contributing to making many hard bop sessions successful. I may have to try "Soul Station" next having previously captured "No room for squares" where Andrew Hill's appearance also serves as a stimulus to Mobley.
I have previously been very negative about Hank Mobley but I now feel he could sometimes be right on the money. However, I do find his playing to be inconsistent and he can sound anonymous on some of the old Horace Silver records as well as the decidedly dated "New conception" which I feel is one of the weakest albums on the label and only saved by Herbie Hancock from being a bit of a stinker. By contrast, the intentions of "Work out" are far more modest and whilst the material could be argued to be quite simplistic, the music really works and Mobley sounds inspired. I'm not quite sure I buy the "middle weight champion" myth about his reputation yet when he was on form and the drugs didn't kick in, he soars above the sleep-walking performances that mar his wok with Miles.
That said, the latest Blue Note I acquired is "Workout" which is a pretty mainstream record where Mobley is very much playing in the same territory / groove as on some of the tracks he made with Miles on "Someday my prince will come" which is uneven to say the least. However, I think Mobley does everything right on "Workout" and this is a really good, solid record. Much of the appeal comes from the rhythm section and I am convinced that Philly Joe Jones' drumming is instrumental to pushing Mobley to play better. It also has Wynton Kelly on board and I am increasingly finding his presence to be a significant contributing to making many hard bop sessions successful. I may have to try "Soul Station" next having previously captured "No room for squares" where Andrew Hill's appearance also serves as a stimulus to Mobley.
I have previously been very negative about Hank Mobley but I now feel he could sometimes be right on the money. However, I do find his playing to be inconsistent and he can sound anonymous on some of the old Horace Silver records as well as the decidedly dated "New conception" which I feel is one of the weakest albums on the label and only saved by Herbie Hancock from being a bit of a stinker. By contrast, the intentions of "Work out" are far more modest and whilst the material could be argued to be quite simplistic, the music really works and Mobley sounds inspired. I'm not quite sure I buy the "middle weight champion" myth about his reputation yet when he was on form and the drugs didn't kick in, he soars above the sleep-walking performances that mar his wok with Miles.
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