Search - Hank Mobley :: Roll Call

Pure Dynamite

Michael Hardin | South Duxbury, Vermont United States | 02/25/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is by far my favorite Hank Mobley album. Recorded in 1960, this album features a young and blistering Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Wynton Kelly and Paul Chambers, a solid rhythm team on piano and bass, and the explosive Art Blakey on drums.The title track takes off right from the beginning, a minor key powerhouse that inspires great solo work from the group. The other notable tune is "A Baptist's Beat," straight from the heart of hard bop, grooving insistently. Both are Mobley originals as are all but one of the others. The group dynamic is very good, the rhythm section surges ahead with Blakey in the driver's seat, and Hubbard and Mobley shine. Hank had a way of melding with trumpet players, in and out of the Jazz Messengers, specifically with the likes of Lee Morgan and Kenny Dorham, as well as Donald Byrd.Buy this CD if you like highly charged, straight ahead jazz. If you want to pat your feet, pat your feet. If you want to take off your shoes, take off your shoes. Put this CD on to have a ball, and swing."

One Roll Call You Don't Want to Miss

Samuel Chell | Kenosha,, WI United States | 08/22/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Rank this one slightly ahead of "Workout" and just behind "Soul Station," if only because the additional horn cuts down on Mobley's solo time. Hank is on fire, immediately throwing down the gauntlet on the opener, on which Hubbard accepts the challenge and acquits himself admirably.



As for Mobley, this was his most fertile period as an improviser. No one thinks faster or makes quicker decisions, whether he's responding to a Blakey press roll, a Kelly chord substitution, or simply a statement of his own (he brings no "agenda" to a solo; it's simply a matter of listening hard to yourself and letting imagination take its course).



To my ears, Hubbard is just as dramatic and full-sounding on this outing as Lee Morgan but more precise. Maybe because of the influence of the non-showmanship and ceaseless invention of Mobley, he goes for none of the flashy, often ill-placed stratospheric notes that, whether he hits them or not, bring a grimace of pain to the listener of many of his later recordings.



The compositions and arrangements are often inspired, though "My Groove Your Move" strikes me as another generic G minor blues, and "A Baptist Beat" mines the all too familiar territory of popular gospel-inflected standards like "Moanin'" and "The "Preacher." Fortunately, the soloists' contributions on both tunes overcome the limitations of the material.



With little fanfare, Blue Note or Amazon has reduced the prices on many of these most recent RVG reissues to levels that are more affordable than downloading the individual tunes as MP3 files. All the more incentive to pick this one up sooner rather than later."

Way Cool Jazz

Jack Baker | LeRoy,IL | 11/08/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm a newbee to jazz, so I don't have a wealth of information on the genre. I have a handful of albums and was familiar with Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Dizzie Gillespie, and Luis Armstrong. I like those artists, but it's Hank Mobley who has really driven my new found interest in jazz. I had heard a tune of his late night on digital cable and fell in love with his tone. Imagine my shock when I found that his sound is considered 'thin' by some jazz fans.



'Roll Call' is full of great tunes and great players. Mobley seems to be at his best when performing his own material and all of his originals, plus the standard 'The More I see You' are all exquisite. 'My Groove Your Move', 'Take Your Pick', and 'A Baptist Beat' all have great central riffs and stick in your head long after the album is over. This album features the same rhythm section from 'Soul Station' with the welcome addition of trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, who adds some dynamic solos to the mix. A solid album from start to finish, guaranteed to make you tap your foot."