Trombonist Curtis Fuller's second Mainstream album has
some dated electronics and funk rhythms, although there are some worthwhile solos from the leader, trumpeter Bill Hardman, and Jimmy Heath on tenor and soprano. The rhythm section (guitarist Earl Dunbar, Cedar Walton on electric piano, electric bassist Mickey Bass and drummer Billy Higgins) weighs down the music a bit despite their obvious talents. The band stretches out on four Fuller originals (best is the 11-minute "Smokin'") and "Stella by Starlight," but the results are not too essential. Scott Yanow Tracklist & Credits :
19.2.24
CURTIS FULLER — Smokin' (1972-2017) RM | Serie Mainstream Records Master Collection – 70 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
23.9.22
HANK MOBLEY - Thinking of Home (1970-2002) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
For what would be his final of over 20 Blue Note albums, tenor saxophonist Hank Mobley uses a sextet that also includes trumpeter Woody Shaw, the obscure guitarist Eddie Diehl, pianist Cedar Walton, bassist Mickey Bass, and drummer Leroy Williams for a typically challenging set of advanced hard bop music. For the first and only time in his career, Mobley recorded a "Suite" (consisting of "Thinking of Home," "The Flight," and "Home at Last"); the remainder of the set has three of his other attractive originals plus Mickey Bass' "Gayle's Groove." This music was not released for the first time until 1980. It is only fitting that Hank Mobley would record one of the last worthwhile Blue Note albums before its artistic collapse (it would not be revived until the 1980s) for his consistent output helped define the label's sound in the 1960s. Mobley's excellent playing and the adventurous solos of Woody Shaw make this hard-to-find LP (his last as a leader) one to hunt for. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1 Suite: Thinking of Home/The Flight/Home at Last 10:06
Hank Mobley
2 Justine 13:04
Hank Mobley
3 You Gotta Hit It 5:34
Hank Mobley
4 Gayle's Groove 5:33
Mickey Bass
5 Talk About Gittin' 8:38
Hank Mobley
Credits :
Bass – Mickey Bass
Drums – Leroy Williams
Guitar – Eddie Diehl
Piano – Cedar Walton
Tenor Saxophone – Hank Mobley
Trumpet – Woody Shaw
+ last month
EDDIE HARRIS — The Last Concert (1997) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
Unless something unauthorized turns up, this appears to be Eddie Harris' last recording. The concert was taped in Europe -- where Harris...