Search - Hank Mobley :: Dippin'

For Completists

Samuel Chell | Kenosha,, WI United States | 08/23/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Any Mobley performance between 1955-1961, whether his own date or with Silver, Blakey, Kenny Dorham or Donald Byrd, is an automatic five stars. His later recordings are hit and miss, often on the same session. The title tune of 1965's "Dippin'" is yet another attempt by Blue Note to cash in on the success of Lee Morgan's "Sidewinder." It's a reductive boogaloo, a period piece with a bridge that could have been written by a garage band, followed by the requisite fade out. The remaining tunes, including the infectious "Recada Bossa Nova" and lovely "I See Your Face Before Me," are good late Mobley.



This may be essential for Mobley completists but can otherwise be judged one of Hank's lesser recordings. It's definitely superior to the contemporaneous, equally if not more formulaic session, "A Caddy for Daddy" (thank goodness, Blue Note chose to remaster "Dippin'" ahead of that yawner).



If you're new to Mobley, just beginning to take a dip into the music of this extraordinarily-gifted, always fresh and inventive artist, whose recordings I confess I listen to more than any other in my bloated collection, take a look at the newly remastered "Soul Station" or "Roll Call," both of which are currently being offered at substantial discounts on Amazon (as are a number of other superior RVG editions). Other strong candidates: "Workout" and "Another Workout," or any of Mobley's appearances with virtually any other musician, 1954-1963 (some available only from Japanese companies at inflated prices). After 1963, be careful, and be prepared to witness the gradual self-destruction and ultimate neglect of a giant as singular and creative (but less dramatically so) as Parker or Coltrane (at least recognition of his understated genius seems to be on a gradual incline over the past two decades)."

Amazing record

Kirk Alex | 07/20/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Can't praise it enough.



Took me a while to get used to this version of Recado Bossa Nova (more up beat than both Frazer McPerson's and Zoot Sims') but, man, it does have more verve and bounce, and the entire CD is a wonder. I can't get enough of Mobley's playing and will be purchasing other CDs by him.



Wish this great sax artist was still around so we could see him blow that horn live."