Gavin Walker
Feb 26, 2010, 08:38 PM
Tonight's Feature will be the final recordings by one of the most prominent and important saxophonists of the 50's and 60's: "the middleweight champion of the tenor saxophone": Hank Mobley. Henry "Hank" Mobley was born in Eastman, Georgia but raised by his mom in Elizabeth (near Newark), New Jersey. As an only child, Mrs Mobley doted on her son and realized that he had an ear and a love for music. She made every effort to nurture this talent and young Hank was soon playing professionally in his early teens. Hank apprenticed with Max Roach and Dizzy Gillespie before becoming a charter member of the Jazz Messengers under the nominal leadership of Art Blakey. During this time he began recording for Blue Note Records in the main but can also be heard on Prestige and Savoy as well but his chief exposure as a composer and leader was on Blue Note. This association lasted until his final recording for that label in 1970. Mobley played off and on with Blakey and Horace Silver, also again with Max Roach before joining Miles Davis for two years in late 1960. His years with Davis brought him his greatest fame. After Davis, he freelanced and recorded prolifically. After 1970 he seemed to drop from the scene. Ill health affecting his lungs and the overall results of heavy drinking and drug use took their toll. However Hank sounded very good on tonight's Feature recording with this short lived quintet co-led by pianist Cedar Walton that was taped in 1972. His final recorded appearance is a guest shot on one tune as part of a recording date done in 1980 by Catalonian pianist Tete Montoliu. We'll hear the the "Breakthrough" recording plus the one tune from the Montoliu date as our tribute to Hank Mobley.
Hank Mobley died poor and sick in Philadelphia, a city where he spent the final dozen years of his life, on May 30 1986, he was only 56. Hank was overlooked during his active playing and recording years as he didn't have the dramatic and innovative approach to the tenor like John Coltrane and Sonny Rollins. The "welterweight champion" tag was not meant to be derogatory but was interpreted as just that by many people. Hank's playing was more subtle and smoother than either Coltrane or Rollins or for that matter, Johnny Griffin. Hank's recordings were always consistant and musical and always featured his compositions and arrangements. Hank could write a new tune or several right in the recording studio and organize a pick-up band so that they could sound like they worked together for years. It is said that Miles Davis dissed Hank and complained about his playing but that is a myth. Davis could have his pick of any saxophone player but he liked Hank's consistancy, his flow, his sound and the way he blended with his trumpet. Miles' only complaint about Hank was that he felt he was sometimes too laid back. Miles also knew that he would never find another John Coltrane. Another knock against Hank was that he never changed or altered his style......he refined it but essentially it remained the same. Rollins and Coltrane altered their styles radically over the years.
These final recordings by Hank reveal a musician still strong and vital. The "Breakthrough" album, originally released on Cobblestone Records is a hard grooving date with Hank and the underrated Charles Davis on both baritone and soprano saxophones, Cedar Walton is heard on piano is co-leader, along with Mobley. Sam Jones is a tower of strength on bass and what more can be said about the great Billy Higgins on drums except to say that he'll swing you into bad health. The title track is a smoker by Mobley and there is one other Hank tune on the set. One tune by Walton and a feature tune by A.C. Jobim that has the baritone of Davis in the forefront. Gershwin's "Summertime" is Hank's outing and a fine trio track with Walton closes the set. The final Mobley selection is from a Tete Montoliu date done in 1980 and finds Hank guesting with Tete, bassist George Mraz and drummer Al Foster and interpreting "Autumn Leaves". Unless something more turns up......this was the last recorded statement by a great saxophonist. Sadly, Hank was "re-discovered" after his passing by not only older fans who missed the boat first time around with Hank but whole new generations of young players who found out that Hank was and is one of the most important tenor saxophonists of any generation and deserves a place alongside of Trane, Newk, and Griff.
The Feature will begin a few minutes BEFORE 11pm to get in the Breakthrough album and the guest shot with Tete Monoliu. I'll also have some fine surprises in our first post-Olympic show starting at 9pm......see you then.................
Hank Mobley died poor and sick in Philadelphia, a city where he spent the final dozen years of his life, on May 30 1986, he was only 56. Hank was overlooked during his active playing and recording years as he didn't have the dramatic and innovative approach to the tenor like John Coltrane and Sonny Rollins. The "welterweight champion" tag was not meant to be derogatory but was interpreted as just that by many people. Hank's playing was more subtle and smoother than either Coltrane or Rollins or for that matter, Johnny Griffin. Hank's recordings were always consistant and musical and always featured his compositions and arrangements. Hank could write a new tune or several right in the recording studio and organize a pick-up band so that they could sound like they worked together for years. It is said that Miles Davis dissed Hank and complained about his playing but that is a myth. Davis could have his pick of any saxophone player but he liked Hank's consistancy, his flow, his sound and the way he blended with his trumpet. Miles' only complaint about Hank was that he felt he was sometimes too laid back. Miles also knew that he would never find another John Coltrane. Another knock against Hank was that he never changed or altered his style......he refined it but essentially it remained the same. Rollins and Coltrane altered their styles radically over the years.
These final recordings by Hank reveal a musician still strong and vital. The "Breakthrough" album, originally released on Cobblestone Records is a hard grooving date with Hank and the underrated Charles Davis on both baritone and soprano saxophones, Cedar Walton is heard on piano is co-leader, along with Mobley. Sam Jones is a tower of strength on bass and what more can be said about the great Billy Higgins on drums except to say that he'll swing you into bad health. The title track is a smoker by Mobley and there is one other Hank tune on the set. One tune by Walton and a feature tune by A.C. Jobim that has the baritone of Davis in the forefront. Gershwin's "Summertime" is Hank's outing and a fine trio track with Walton closes the set. The final Mobley selection is from a Tete Montoliu date done in 1980 and finds Hank guesting with Tete, bassist George Mraz and drummer Al Foster and interpreting "Autumn Leaves". Unless something more turns up......this was the last recorded statement by a great saxophonist. Sadly, Hank was "re-discovered" after his passing by not only older fans who missed the boat first time around with Hank but whole new generations of young players who found out that Hank was and is one of the most important tenor saxophonists of any generation and deserves a place alongside of Trane, Newk, and Griff.
The Feature will begin a few minutes BEFORE 11pm to get in the Breakthrough album and the guest shot with Tete Monoliu. I'll also have some fine surprises in our first post-Olympic show starting at 9pm......see you then.................