Often overlooked, perhaps because he wasn't a great innovator in jazz
but merely a stellar performer, tenor saxophonist Hank Mobley was at the
peak of his powers on Soul Station. Recorded with a superstar quartet
including Art Blakey on drums, Paul Chambers on bass, and Wynton Kelly
on piano, it was the first album since Mobley's 1955 debut to feature
him as a leader without any other accompanying horns. The clean,
uncomplicated sound that resulted from that grouping helps make it the
best among his albums and a peak moment during a particularly strong
period in his career. Mobley has no problem running the show here, and
he does it without being flashy or burying the strong work of his
sidemen. The solidness of his technique means that he can handle
material that is occasionally rhythmically intricate, while still
maintaining the kind of easy roundness and warmth displayed by the best
players of the swing era. Two carefully chosen standards, "Remember" and
"If I Should Lose You," help to reinforce that impression by casting an
eye back to the classic jazz era. They bookend four Mobley originals
that, in contrast, reflect the best of small-group composition with
their lightness and tight dynamics. Overall, this is a stellar set from
one of the more underrated musicians of the bop era.
aCá
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