Hank Mobley - Workout (1961)

Another Hank Mobley Blue Note sesh fer ye. Workout features one of my favorite jazz guitarists, Grant Green, whose style I associate with tasteful restraint. His playing and tone are unique and instantly recognizable as his own. Like the last Hank record we posted, Wynton Kelly and Paul Chambers are back. However this time Philly Joe takes the stool in place of Art Blakey.

Tracklist:

1. Workout
2. Uh Huh
3. Smokin'
4. The Best Things In Life Are Free
5. Greasin' Easy
6. Three Coins In The Fountain

Personnel:

Hank Mobley, tenor sax
Grant Green, guitar
Wynton Kelly, piano
Paul Chambers, bass
Philly Joe Jones, drums

Produced by Alfred Lion
Originally recorded on March 26, 1961 at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey
Remastered in 2005 by Rudy Van Gelder
All transfers from analog to digital were made at 24-bit resolution.

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John Coltrane - Blue Train (1957) (320)

I've been on a John Coltrane binge recently, so I'll be uploading a few of his recordings in the near future. My collection focuses more on his later, Impulse! years, but I decided to post Blue Train first. This album features some of Trane's best hard bop playing. The title track has become a classic blues number: Coltrane and trombonist Curtis Fuller playing the recognizable melody before Lee Morgan comes in with the harmony. When the rhythm section joins, they start swinging, and Trane soars over the changes with his opening solo. Coltrane gets help from some phenomenal players on this session: Lee Morgan burns on the fast bop numbers, showing off his range and incredible chops. And Curtis Fuller kills it, too, proving that jazz trombone should really be more commonplace. The trombone harmonies add a fullness to the sound, and Fuller can keep up with the fast changes as well. Fuller also plays a smooth solo on the ballad "I'm Old Fashioned" (the only piece on the album that Coltrane did not compose). It's interesting to compare this recording to the later Coltrane, where he works outside the melodic rules that he displays mastery of on Blue Train. This version has two extra tracks, alternate versions of "Blue Train" and "Lazy Bird".

Tracklist:

1. Blue Train
2. Moment's Notice
3. Locomotion
4. I'm Old Fashioned
5. Lazy Bird
6. Blue Train (Alternate Take)
7. Lazy Bird (Alternate Take)

Personnel:

John Coltrane, tenor saxophone
Lee Morgan, trumpet
Curtis Fuller, trombone
Kenny Drew, piano
Paul Chambers, bass
Philly Joe Jones, drums

Produced by Alfred Lion
Recorded on September 15, 1957 at the Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, New Jersey
Originally recorded and remastered in 2003 by Rudy Van Gelder
All transfers from the analog tapes to digital were made at 24-bit resolution
Reissue produced by Michael Cuscuna
Cover photograph: Francis Wolff
Cover design: Reid Miles
Liner photographs from the actual session by Francis Wolff © Mosaic Images

#1-5 originally issued as BST 81577

Blue Note Records
7243 4 95326 2 5

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Miles Davis - Workin' With The Miles Davis Quintet (1956) (320)

This 1956 recording features Miles and his first Classic Quintet: John Coltrane, Red Garland, Paul Chambers, and Philly Joe Jones. Miles' famous Harmon mute playing can be heard on two pieces: "It Never Entered My Mind" (also covered by Frank Sinatra on In The Wee Small Hours"), as well as the standard "In Your Own Sweet Way". On "It Never Entered My Mind", Red Garland's piano solo is sandwiched by Miles's beautiful stylization of the melody. The ballad exemplifies Miles' distinct playing - his tone and style are instantly recognizable even playing a simple melody. Two blues numbers are featured: "Trane's Blues", composed by John Coltrane, followed by "Ahmad's Blues", composed by one of Miles' favorite pianists, Ahmad Jamal. The album has its intermission with "The Theme" (Take 1), and concludes with "The Theme" (Take 2). The following year, Trane would release his debut for Prestige.

Tracklist:

1. It Never Entered My Mind
2. Four
3. In Your Own Sweet Way
4. The Theme (Take 1)
5. Trane's Blues
6. Ahmad's Blues
7. Half Nelson
8. The Theme (Take 2)

Personnel:

Miles Davis, trumpet (except #6)
John Coltrane, tenor saxophone (except #6)
Red Garland, piano
Paul Chambers, bass
Philly Joe Jones, drums

Supervision by Bob Weinstock
Recorded by Rudy Van Gelder at Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, NJ; May 11, 1956. ("Half Nelson" recorded October 26, 1956.)
Cover photo - Esmond Edwards
Mastering engineer - Shigeo Miyamoto under supervision of Tamaki Beck for JVC Studios
This album is remastered using 20-bit A/D converter with digital K2 Interface.

Prestige
PRCD-7166-2

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Hank Mobley - No Room For Squares (1963) (320)

Tracklist:

1. No Room For Squares
2. No Room For Squares [Bonus-Alternate Take]
3. Three Way Split
4. Comin' Back
5. Me 'n You
6. Carolyn [Bonus-Alternate Take]
7. Carolyn
8. Syrup And Biscuits

Personnel:

Lee Morgan, trumpet
Hank Mobley, tenor sax
Andrew Hill, piano
John Ore, bass
Philly Joe Jones, drums

Produced by Alfred Lion
Produced for release by Michael Cuscuna
Recording by Rudy Van Gelder
Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on October 2, 1963
Cover photo by Francis Wolff
Cover Design by Reid Miles
Digital transfers: Ron McMaster

Blue Note Records
CDP 7 84149 2

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