Hank Mobley Quintet 1957

[Larry Kart]

Listening to this album for the first time in a good while walking on the local rec center's oval track, I was struck by in what fine form Art Farmer was on this date -- thoughtful and lucid as one might expect but also quite bold at times; his chops were in near "raise the rafters" shape that day. Great too to hear lots of horn-like Horace Silver solo work; and his e.s.p. comping behind Hank and Art goes without saying.

[Kevin Bresnahan]

"Base On Balls" is one of my favorite slow blues.

 

[Dan Gould]

+1.  This may be my favorite BN recording led by Hank in the 1950s.

[Late]

Funk. In. Deep. Freeze.

[colinmce]

2 hours ago, Dan Gould said:

+1.  This may be my favorite BN recording led by Hank in the 1950s.

Mine as well, and possibly my favorite period.

[chewy-chew-chew-bean-benitez]

yy- and you can get B.O.B on fortyfive 

[Peter Friedman]

Yes, I agree with what everyone has said. A truly marvelous recording. Have loved it since I got the LP when first issued way way way back in the day.

[mikeweil]

Pulled the Mosaic box this afternoon and listened to it. Still sounds fresh and vital. What more can you want?

Doug Watkins was the greatest bass player back then, IMO.

Edited November 2, 2021 by mikeweil

[Dan Gould]

1 hour ago, mikeweil said:

 

Doug Watkins was the greatest bass player back then, IMO.

Maybe that has to do with the fact that I'd probably go with the Transitions (Byrds Eye View and Watkins at Large) as favorite non-BN Mobley of the 50s.

[Quasimado]

5 hours ago, mikeweil said:

Doug Watkins was the greatest bass player back then, IMO.

Agree with that - weren't he and Paul Chambers cousins? There is some (family) resemblance in their playing ... both playing / pushing right on top of the beat ...

[chewy-chew-chew-bean-benitez]

no way, u heard that?

 

EDIT - cousin by marriage it says?

Edited November 3, 2021 by chewy-chew-chew-bean-benitez

[Quasimado]

OK - checked it out - some mixed reports but it would seem not cousins as in family - maybe bass cousins

[JSngry]

How many times did Doug Watkins do that walking bass intro thing?

[Larry Kart]

Do'n't know the answer, but how about this from Paul Chambers?

 

[Peter Friedman]

On 11/2/2021 at 2:25 PM, Dan Gould said:

Maybe that has to do with the fact that I'd probably go with the Transitions (Byrds Eye View and Watkins at Large) as favorite non-BN Mobley of the 50s.

Good choices Dan. My picks for non-BN Mobley from the 50's would be these two that also have Doug Watkins.

[Chuck Nessa]

Watkins is also on the 2 Mobley dates on Prestige.

[mikeweil]

The Lord Disco lists Watkins for playing on 110 sessions from 1954 until 1962, when he was killed in an automobile accident. That's amazing for such a short career.

[Mark Stryker]

46 minutes ago, mikeweil said:

The Lord Disco lists Watkins for playing on 110 sessions from 1954 until 1962, when he was killed in an automobile accident. That's amazing for such a short career.

It's a big number to be sure, but context is worth noting:

In the same span of time, from 1954 to 1962, Paul Chambers played on 298 sessions. (P.C. appeared on "only" 56 more sessions before his death in 1969. Art Taylor played on 239 sessions between 1954 and 1962.

Not to trying to diminish Watkins or his gifts -- hey, Jazz from Detroit! -- but only to note that the top rhythm section players on the East Coast scene in that era, the first flush of 12-inch LPs, were making a LOT of recordings. High demand leads to big totals.  

 

 

 

Edited November 4, 2021 by Mark Stryker

[mikeweil]

12 hours ago, Mark Stryker said:

Not to trying to diminish Watkins or his gifts -- hey, Jazz from Detroit! -- but only to note that the top rhythm section players on the East Coast scene in that era, the first flush of 12-inch LPs, were making a LOT of recordings. High demand leads to big totals.  

Yes, of course, on all accounts.

[Gheorghe]

I have all those Hank Mobley albums from 55-57 from BN as mini LP cardboard sleeve CDs. They are very fine, but my really favourit Mobley stuff is from the early 60´s for the much better sound of Mobley. I listended to all the BNs, but as older I get, I always get back spinning only some of them, my all time favourites.....

[Steve Reynolds]

Today I don’t listen to that much jazz from the mid 50’s to early 60’s (golden age for many) but when I do it’s often Hank Mobley. I love all of it - especially sessions like this one.