Some of my favorite Hank Mobley albums are with Horace Silver—either Mobley as leader with Silver as sideman, or Mobley as sideman on Silver's leadership dates. Their first album together was Horace Silver Quintet Vol. 1 in November 1954. Volume 2 was recorded in February 1955. Probably the best-known song to emerge from the first session was Doodlin'. The Preacher is the most signature from the second. [Photo above of Hank Mobley by Francis Wolff (c)Mosaic Images]
Before I continue, something you should know. If you've never been to Rudy Van Gelder's studio in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., or you haven't recorded there, you now have a chance to see what all the fuss is about without leaving your home. This Saturday, November 14, at 9 p.m., an all-star quartet will pay tribute to Mobley at Rudy's studio and you can watch via streaming.
The celebration is in tribute to what would have been Mobley's 90th birthday and the 60th anniversary of Mobley's classic Blue Note recordings Soul Station, Roll Call and more. The quartet features Ron Carter (b), Joe Lovano (ts), Isaiah J. Thompson (p) and Kenny Washington (d). Trumpeter and arranger-producer Don Sickler will host the event. Tickets are $15 (there are only a set number, so buy fast). Go here.
As I was saying above, Silver and Mobley combined create a special synergy. Mobley soloing with Silver comping on piano behind him is unbeatable. Silver's funky push and Mobely's zig-zagging is dynamic and exciting. Songs like Room 608, Hippy, Stop Time and Hankerin' are knockouts. The personnel on both volumes included Kenny Dorham (tp) Mobley (ts) Silver (p) Doug Watkins (b) and Art Blakey (d).
Listening to Mobley and Silver is like watching two guys through a cyclone fence play one-on-one basketball. When Silver lets Mobley shoot, his solo goes right through the net. The same is true of Silver. The back and forth is hypnotic, and neither one misses a shot. As you listen to the music, think about the years it was recorded—1954 and '55. Silver, Mobley (and the rest of the group) were way ahead of their time. I also believe Silver's Hippy was the first use of the word, 12 years before it would be applied with a slightly different spelling to those dressed in bohemian thrift-shop finds embracing peace, free love and a few other things in San Francisco and then nationwide. Silver, of course, was using the word to describe someone hip to the jazz scene, but with an upbeat, funky spirit.
Horace Silver died in 2014; Hank Mobley died in 1986.
JazzWax tracks: The Horace Silver Quintet, Vols. 1 and 2 originally were issued as 10-inch LPs in 1954 and '55. They were combined in 1956 and released as one 12-inch LP called Horace Silver and the Jazz Messengers. You'll find the Blue Note album here.
JazzWax clips: Here's Hankerin'...
Here's To Whom It May Concern...
And here's Room 608...
