Comments on: Guest Column: Review of Hank Mobley Bio

By: Shaft

Shaft — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 17:51:05 +0000

Hank has turned out to be my favourite! I just love the guy’s sound and musical genious.
I liked the book too.Well worth reading and listening along to.
Shaft

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 21:30:45 +0000

dottorjazz,
Trane is my favorite too with Hank and Newk somewhere second. I just wish Hank would have gotten the appreciation that those two did and still do. The first time I Trane I knew that something was going on there. It’s hard to explain. With Hank, it took me a while to appreciate him as i do now because of his more subtle approach.
Michel and Chewy, I do hope you will right something one day. I read a lot of jazz biographies and one gladly read another.

By: dottorjazz

dottorjazz — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 20:54:32 +0000

this is my (sad) story ’bout middle and heavyweight tenors.when I was young,a long time ago,i got miles someday my prince will come on Columbia.That was my first encounter with Mobley.One tenor was JC,my hero,the other was Hank.we used to listen in a group of 4 friends.well,we declared Hank knocked out by Trane.and this was our big mistake ’cause we all didn’t search for Mobley’s records in a time when we could get ’em without cutting our veins.
while Trane is still my favorite,and Newk with him,I have changed my mind on Hank but I’m sure I’m a little bit late.

By: Michel

Michel — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 17:24:13 +0000

Chewy, i had the same project…

By: Mattyman

Mattyman — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 09:16:55 +0000

Thanks for the review, Mike. I have a week spot for Mobley; I like all his output. Even his ‘lesser’ material sounds great to me. And don’t we all remember that it’s Hank himself who announces “Alone Together” on The Jazz Messengers at Café Bohemia, Vol.1 after he’s been announce by Art Blakey? Just wanted to mention that little ditty 😉

By: Chewy

Chewy — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 07:52:41 +0000

hey everybody, Chewy here, worlds biggest Hank supporter/collector, I’m not buyin’ what Ansell’s sellin’- sounds more like a jazz-listening guide…Hank was a good person and a good soul and that is why he HAD soul. At one point in the mid-90’s i wanted to get a Hank book out there, guess Ansell beat me to the punch. well his book is like a liberty re-cut when my book was going to be like a mono 1500 series rvg stamped.

By: Mike

Mike — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 23:08:04 +0000

Here is an interview with the author Derek Ansell. Short but informative. Interview

By: BigBear

BigBear — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 20:55:34 +0000

Mike – Very thoughtful and well written. It certainly got me pumped up to go listen to some Hank – and maybe even order the book!

By: Mike

Mike — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 19:44:54 +0000

I appreciate the positive comments everyone!

By: Mike

Mike — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 19:44:04 +0000

Michel, I agree. The author prefers hanks post 1960 output. I got the impression that there were only so many albums he could do and if any part of hanks career was going to be neglected it would be the earlier part. I definitely enjoy “Mobley’s Message”. I think the author isms correct when saying Hank never really had a bad session.