chewy-chew-chew-bean-benitez Posted May 26, 2007 Report Posted May 26, 2007 inspired by the recent in depth report on chicago era le sun'r ra, chewy wishes to understand...: i think he got busted once in the late 50s, but it wasn't as trumped up a charge and others got (gene ammons, et al), and then in the 60s as we have read he was in jail circa the time he wrote a slice of the top, one of his most accomplished statements as an artist anyways when did hank finally get off the junk? and don't tell me none of that "hank was doping up even in the early 80s" BS, thats not the case im pretty sure has anyone ever did a public records search for mobleys court records etc?? can u do that kind of stuff? Quote
Hardbopjazz Posted May 26, 2007 Report Posted May 26, 2007 Got off of the junk? Did he? I know he didn't stop smoking, which gave his lung problems. Quote
AndrewHill Posted May 26, 2007 Report Posted May 26, 2007 He was drinking heavily, I think, well into the 1980's. If I remember correctly, it was discussed in a 'Night of the Blue Note DVD' like thread (I'm sorry for not posting a link, because I don't recall the exact title of the thread or where its at) and he showed up and sat in the audience completely ripped. It was my impression (again I could be wrong) that maybe he was there to play, but he was too trashed to perform. Quote
chewy-chew-chew-bean-benitez Posted May 26, 2007 Author Report Posted May 26, 2007 you should check that re: he was initially showing up to play.... Quote
sidewinder Posted May 27, 2007 Report Posted May 27, 2007 I remember seeing a NorthSea Fest advert in the jazz press around this time (84-ish) announcing Hank's quartet was on the bill but sadly it didn't happen. Quote
AndrewHill Posted May 27, 2007 Report Posted May 27, 2007 you should check that re: he was initially showing up to play.... Like I said, I wasn't sure where I saw that. Quote
AllenLowe Posted May 27, 2007 Report Posted May 27, 2007 Mobley was supposed to play at the Tin Palace in NYC at one point - as I heard, there were long lines but Mobley never showed - in one of Gerald Early's books he tells of lecturing a black co-worker on appreciating jazz as a part of African American heritage; a few weeks later the same co-worker comes in and says something like "hey, I just passed a representative of your great black heritage, Hank Mobley, lying in the gutter stoned." Quote
Larry Kart Posted May 27, 2007 Report Posted May 27, 2007 I'm pretty sure that I saw and heard Mobley at The Tin Palace at some point in the '80s. He was in grim shape, could hardly get a sound out of the horn, and IIRC he either left the stand on his own or was ushered off by someone who was looking out for him. Could be that I'm mis-rembering this, and he didn't play at all, but I don't think so. Quote
Michael Weiss Posted May 27, 2007 Report Posted May 27, 2007 I heard Hank play at the Angry Squire on November 22, 1985, with Duke Jordan and singer Lodi Carr. I don't remember the bassist and drummer. Quote
chewy-chew-chew-bean-benitez Posted May 27, 2007 Author Report Posted May 27, 2007 Allen Lowe what r u talking about? hank never was layin' in no gutter. hank but of had a hard time but he was never in a gutter Quote
Larry Kart Posted May 27, 2007 Report Posted May 27, 2007 I heard Hank play at the Angry Squire on November 22, 1985, with Duke Jordan and singer Lodi Carr. I don't remember the bassist and drummer. Yes -- Lodi Carr was there at The Tin Palace, too. Quote
Chalupa Posted May 28, 2007 Report Posted May 28, 2007 Allen Lowe what r u talking about? hank never was layin' in no gutter. hank but of had a hard time but he was never in a gutter The last few years of his life he lived in West Philadelphia and was pretty close to destitute. Uri Cane once told me some pretty sad stories about Hank's drinking. Quote
Soulstation1 Posted May 28, 2007 Report Posted May 28, 2007 (edited) I THUOGTH CHWEY NEW EVRTIHNG AOBUT MBOELEE? Edited May 28, 2007 by Soulstation1 Quote
AllenLowe Posted May 28, 2007 Report Posted May 28, 2007 well, I never saw him in the gutter myself - maybe it was Chewy - you two guys look an awful lot alike - Quote
Guy Berger Posted May 28, 2007 Report Posted May 28, 2007 well, I never saw him in the gutter myself - maybe it was Chewy - you two guys look an awful lot alike - Watch out, Allen... Quote
Kevin Bresnahan Posted May 30, 2007 Report Posted May 30, 2007 Allen Lowe what r u talking about? hank never was layin' in no gutter. hank but of had a hard time but he was never in a gutter You do realize that he died on an Amtrak bench, homeless & penniless, right? Sleeping on a bench or sleeping in a gutter - not too far a stretch for a homeless broke. BTW, according to Michael Cuscuna, Mobley's appearance at the 1985 concert was totally unexpected and no, he wasn't supposed to play. He just mysteriously showed up. Michael sent out invites and when he didn't hear back from Mobley, didn't plan for him. I believe that when they found out he was in the crowd, they had him stand up and wave... maybe even dragged him up on stage for the wave. I forget which one. Quote
clifford_thornton Posted May 30, 2007 Report Posted May 30, 2007 Wow, I didn't know it was THAT bad. Quote
AllenLowe Posted May 30, 2007 Report Posted May 30, 2007 the guy who probably knows what was going on with Mobley at that time would probably be Barry Harris - unless I'm remembering incorrectly, on the Mobley gig I heard about at the Tin Palace, that Mobley did not make, Barry was the pianist - I haven't talked to him for a while, but will have to ask him next time I see him - Quote
Dan Gould Posted May 30, 2007 Report Posted May 30, 2007 BTW, according to Michael Cuscuna, Mobley's appearance at the 1985 concert was totally unexpected and no, he wasn't supposed to play. He just mysteriously showed up. Michael sent out invites and when he didn't hear back from Mobley, didn't plan for him. I believe that when they found out he was in the crowd, they had him stand up and wave... maybe even dragged him up on stage for the wave. I forget which one. Mobley not only was brought up on stage but said a few words. They appear on a promotional 45 included in the Japanese One Night With Blue Note Box Set. He says that 'sometimes you can't get in contact with people in time but they got in contact with me to come here" and then mentions talking to Lou Donaldson and realizing that LD, not Hank, is the "oldest person who played saxophone for Blue Note." Quote
sidewinder Posted May 30, 2007 Report Posted May 30, 2007 They appear on a promotional 45 included in the Japanese One Night With Blue Note Box Set. How can we forget that one ! Quote
Chalupa Posted May 30, 2007 Report Posted May 30, 2007 I just realized that Hank left us 21 years ago today. Quote
chewy-chew-chew-bean-benitez Posted May 30, 2007 Author Report Posted May 30, 2007 we salute you, Hank!! Quote
Chalupa Posted May 30, 2007 Report Posted May 30, 2007 You do realize that he died on an Amtrak bench, homeless & penniless, right? Sleeping on a bench or sleeping in a gutter - not too far a stretch for a homeless broke. Are you sure about the "Amtrak bench"? The local papers said he died in a hospital. HANK MOBLEY, 55, JAZZ MUSICIAN Philadelphia Inquirer, The (PA) June 4, 1986 Services are scheduled Friday evening for Hank Mobley, 55, once one of the leading figures in jazz. The tenor saxophone player, who worked with such jazz greats as Thelonius Monk, Art Blakey, Miles Davis and Horace Silver, died last Friday at Misericordia Hospital of pneumonia. He lived in Southwest Philadelphia. Mr. Mobley, who also is credited with 140 compositions, is survived by his parents, Otis and Lillian Rogers. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Johnson Funeral Home, 46th Street and Woodland Avenue. Services will follow at 8 p.m. Burial will be made at 10 a.m. Saturday at Mount Lawn Cemetery in Sharon Hill. Memo: OBITUARIES Edition: FINAL Section: LOCAL Page: E12 Quote
Aggie87 Posted May 30, 2007 Report Posted May 30, 2007 A hospital that is partially named "Miseri" isn't a good thing. RIP Hank! Quote
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