The only film of Hank Mobley

[elmo]

Mobley with Bobby Timmons and Nica talking to Monk at the Village Vanguard


Its on youtube but I can't attach it cos it doesn't have a share facility. It is only a short clip and nobody plays but its nice to see.

elmo

[Jazzrook]

Mobley with Bobby Timmons and Nica talking to Monk at the Village Vanguard


Its on youtube but I can't attach it cos it doesn't have a share facility. It is only a short clip and nobody plays but its nice to see.

elmo

Thanks, elmo - is this it?:

https://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=jbxzVvE5cno

JR

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

Thanks, elmo - is this it?:

https://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=jbxzVvE5cno

JR

Great! It's from this ... (Which appears to be on Vimeo for c. £3 rental):

"DIRECTOR: MICHAEL BLACKWOOD

CAST: THELONIOUS MONK
Michael Blackwood in person on Saturday, April 6 [sold out]

Thelonious Monk, though at the height of his fame and his musical powers, was unbeknownst to the world approaching the end of his life as a public performer in 1967, when German television commissioned young filmmaker Michael Blackwood to make a documentary about the world-renowned jazz pianist and composer. After following Monk across two continents for six months, Blackwood came away with 14 hours of sizzling candid footage, enough for two cinema verité-style works that were broadcast in Germany and then never seen again. Until now, that is— remastered by Michael Blackwood Productions on the occasion of the recent centennial of Monk’s birth, Monk and Monk in Europe are now ready to be viewed anew, essential documents of one of the 20th century’s great American artists both pontificating on and passionately practicing his craft.

MONK
A ride-along with Monk and his quartet, then consisting of Charlie Rouse, Larry Gales, and Ben Riley, that catches the crew in New York, where they knock dead the crowd at the Village Vanguard and lay tracks down at Columbia Records with legendary producer Teo Macero, as well as in Atlanta, appearing at a festival put together by famed impresario George Wein.

MONK IN EUROPE
For a European tour under the auspices of Wein’s Newport Jazz Festival road company Monk is joined by Ray Copeland, Clark Terry, Phil Woods, and Johnny Griffin, following an intense itinerary through the rounds of European dates that includes stops in London, Stckholm, Copenhagen, Berlin, Mainz and Rotterdam, competing along the way for crowds with the rising rock fest circuit."

BN.

[Jazzrook]

Here's a short trailer for that film:

https://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=BUZ6zeR-I74

JR

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

Its odd that there's no Mobley footage apparantly anywhere from his time in Holland, Denmark and Paris. He was a hip "name" and highly regarded. There's footage of Dexter and Johnny Griffin etc, some of Kenny Dorham, but no Hankenstein. Maybe in someone's attic...

[Serial_Apologist]

I don't think Hamk Mobley ever came to this country, did he?

[Jazzrook]

I don't think Hamk Mobley ever came to this country, did he?

According to an article by Simon Spillett in Jazz Journal(Jan 2004) Hank Mobley played at Ronnie Scott's in 1968:

https://www.organissimo.org/forum/index.php?/topic/18281-hank-mobley-in-europe-1968-70/

JR

[Serial_Apologist]

According to an article by Simon Spillett in Jazz Journal(Jan 2004) Hank Mobley played at Ronnie Scott's in 1968:

https://www.organissimo.org/forum/index.php?/topic/18281-hank-mobley-in-europe-1968-70/

JR

Aha, thanks. I was out of the country at the time.

[elmo]

Thanks, elmo - is this it?:

https://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=jbxzVvE5cno

JR

Yes that is the one, thanks JR

elmo

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

This is from the blog of the guy who brightened up the section of film so Hank could be recognised...

"We have very little footage, if any, of pianist Bobby Timmons and saxophonist Hank Mobley. For that reason, any fleeting moment is worth showing. In the images below, they are both seen relaxed, hanging with Monk and the Baroness. The reason why the identity of Mobley may have escaped regular viewers is that the actual footage is quite, and fittingly, dark. Here, I've had to push the brightness to the top—the film looks much nicer. The complete sequence, with the camara focused on Monk, lasts 2:35.

So, they are hanging in the hallowed grounds of the Village Vanguard kitchen—Max Gordon, the owner, appears at one point—it's Monk's gig, and they're discussing the value of money and jewelry, the first voice you hear is Mobley's..."

[Jazzrook]

Some discussion about the non-existence of any video footage of Hank Mobley playing:

https://www.organissimo.org/forum/index.php?/topic/80637-is-there-any-footage-of-hank-mobley-playing/

JR

[Ian Thumwood]

Part of the reason there is probably no Hank Mobley on video because he must have always have been in Van Gelder's recording studio!

A friend of mine played drums for Hank Mobley when he toured France but he was far more impressed by Clifford Jordan who he felt had more drive. He stated that Mobley was not a natural leader whereas as Jordan managed to push the French musicians to higher levels of performance. In fairness, I think this was late on in Mobley's career when recoding chances had dried up. I find Mobley inconsistent. Sometimes he feels like he phoned in a performance whereas there are records like "Work out", "Soul Station" or Dorham's "Whistle Stop" where is playing is incredible. These are amongst the greatest Blue Notes. The Donald Byrd record with the choir called "New Direction" is a example where it sounds like he had no interest in the music - small wonder as some of it sounds like it might have been written for a B-movie western. I love his playing when he is on form but you can get a false impression if you pick up the wrong disc.

I do think it is strange how players like Mobley and Tina Brooks acquired a cult appreciation whereas poor old Jimmy Heath just got taken for granted. Heath was a terrific saxophonist and a far better composer than the other two . Of that generation , Jimmy Heath got completely over-looked.

[Jazzrook]

https://www.npr.org/sections/ablogsupreme/2009/06/jazz_icons_video_series_treasu_1.html

JR

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

That's really interesting. I remember a few years back all those tapes were found at the Baden Baden radio station, particularly some very good Oscar Pettiford, including some film. So maybe some Hank will appear. I see on the Organissimo site there's now some audio of Mobley playing with Bird in 1953 and someone posted quite a list of Mobley gigs, so who knows....

[Jazzrook]

It's always frustrated me that no film footage of Albert Ayler can be found on the internet(there could have been if the BBC had broadcast the 1966 LSE concert and not wiped the tapes).
I've read that Ayler's 1970 Fondation Maeght concert in Paris was filmed and tapes exist. I'm sure there must be others and live in hope that one of his concert performances will appear on DVD one day.

JR