Customer Reviews

Workout (24bt) (Mlps)

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Recently out-of-print (though still easily found), it is great to have Hank Mobley's "Workout" available once again via this RVG Edition. This classic Blue Note session from March 26, 1961 features the tenor saxman and guitarist Grant Green joining the formidable rhythm trio of Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones. (Mobley would bring the same group back in the studio that December, sans Green, to make "Another Workout" -- now there's a CD that needs to be reissued!) The playing is smooth and straight-ahead, powered by great solos and great compositions. Surprisingly, my favorite tune has always been the mid-tempo romantic ballad, "Three Coins in a Fountain," left off the original vinyl but added as a bonus track to this and previous CD versions. In all, there's nothing like a good "Workout" with Hank Mobley to get the blood flowing and the feet tapping!

Hank Mobley spent so much of his life in the shadow of John Coltrane, who certainly blew more notes...

Mobley and Miles Davis should have been soul-mates, prior to '64, Davis often played solos close to the melodic line (see his solo on Round Midnight). John Coltrane thought so, he recommended Mobley to Davis as his replacement. Mobley has a wonderful lyric sound to his sax, despite the indifference of Miles Davis and much of the hardbop world to his work during his life. Thoughtful Mobley played complex music, occationally just behind the beat (like Billie Holliday).

His sunny rendition of "The Best Things in Life are Free" is so happy, it will bring tears of joy to your eyes. Despite being close to the melodic line, it's a classic. "Three Coins" is another lyric classic. "Uh-huh" and "Smokin'" have strong blues influences. The rushed title track is probably my least favorite song on here, which is unusual.

for Miles and Mobley, hear "Someday my Prince will Come" & "Live at the Blackhawk", etc.

In my estimation the three best Hank Mobley Albums, (other than his Miles Davis stuff), are "Soul Station", this album & "Another Workout". After the early 1960's, much of Mobley's albums had too much trumpet, overpowering his solos. In subsequent albums, Mobley was pushed to change his relaxed, thoughtful, lyrical style to try to be more like Coltrane (and less like Mobley). That and a bunch of boogaloo, esp with Lee Morgan. It is the Mobley in this period and earlier albums which I think was what he was really all about. He was around for another 20 plus years, but a shadow of his former self.

With music, if the first note doesn't sound good, it doesn't matter how many follow...and Hank Mobley knew how to play notes that sounded good!

Contrary to many who dig the title track "Workout" as the cream of this one, I actually think Hank - one of my favorite bop tenormen - is not up to his usual high standard. The next tune, however, "Uh Huh", also penned by Mobley, finds him in better form. The band behind him - Wynton especially on this cut, Grant Green (oh yeah), Chambers, and Philly Joe pick it up as well. Philly Joe kills on this basic shuffle, working up to a fever groove about two-thirds in, then clickin' with rims...great drumming. Grant Green outshines Hank on "Smokin'", another straight ahead Mobley bop number, and Wynton again is in top form. Hank trading 'fours' with Philly Joe is his best playing on this track, I think, along with the suprise lyrical ending. The best playing on the CD by Mobley is undoubtedly on "The Best Things In Life Are Free" - it almost sounds like he was waiting through the first three just to tear this one up, and Grant Green responds with a beautiful solo of his own; definately the best track on the CD. Another Mobley straight ahead-er, "Greasin' Easy" follows, and Hank plays it well, even great at times, but again, without meaning to, Grant Green outshines him, taking a double-time solo and then dropping back to the regular groove and sounding right on the money. I suppose what I'm alluding to here is that there are great moments all throughout this session - it's just that many of them are not Mobley, even though they come on tunes that he wrote. In fact, it's my personal opinion that Hank's real moments, both of tone and substance, come on the only two tunes he DIDN'T write. The last tune, "Three Coins In The Fountain" finds Mobley again in top form. Amazingly, this was not issued on the LP.

Hank Mobley, the middleweight champ of the tenor sax, delivers another solid groovefest, joined here by drummer Philly Joe Jones, bassist Paul Chambers, pianist Wynton Kelly, and guitarist Grant Green. Green's presence in particular adds somewhat of a bluesy feel to these sessions. His interplay with Mobs on "Uh Huh" is spectacular. The rhythm section is top notch, swinging with aplomb, and Philly Joe is at his best here. Wynton Kelly plays his usual tasteful lines. But highest praise must go to the leader, whose tone and lyrical intelligence are unparalleled. No one makes each note count as much as Hank Mobley does. There's never anything superfluous about his playing, never a wasted phrase. And I don't think any jazz artist picked more evocative song titles than Mobley. "Workout", "Uh Huh", "Smokin", and "Greasin' Easy" all live up to their billing. I've always enjoyed Mobley's own compositions over his interpretations, but the playing on "Three Coins in the Fountain" and "The Best Things in Life Are Free" is eloquent. This album represents Hank Mobley at his peak, joined by a fine cast of musicians. The groove on this album is so deep it's a rut.

I'LL SKIP THE ALL THE OBVIOUS USUAL STUFF AND SIMPLY SAY THAT
THIS IS ONE OF MOBLEY'S MOST BEAUTIFUL RECORDINGS. THE GEM OF THE SET IS "THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE" MOBLEY WAS CLEARLY ONE OF THE MOST LYRICALLY GIFTED TENORISTS OF HIS OR ANY GENERATION.
HIS SOLOS - PARTICULARLY MID TEMPO LIGHTLY SWINGING STANDARDS
LIKE "FREE" FEATURE HIS UNCANNY ABILITY TO BLOW POETRY THRU HIS HORN. MOBLEY'S CONSTRUCTIONS ARE SIMPLE AND ELEGANT WITH AN EMPHASIS ON MELODIC DEVELOPMENT HUNG SQUARELY AND PERFECTLY ON THE TUNES HARMONIC STRUCTURE - BUT THEY ARE TRANSCENDANT IN THEIR
OVERALL ABILITY TO REALLY TELL "A STORY" SOMETHING ONLY THE BEST JAZZMAN EVER SUCCEED AT. MOBLEY'S RENDITION OF "I SHOULD CARE" (NOT ON THIS ALBUM) IS ALSO STRONG TESTAMENT TO HIS INCREDIBLE ABILITY TO WEAVE SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL AND LASTING. THIS ALBUM HAS MOBLEY'S TONE SOUNDING PARTICULARLY LUSH AND EXPANSIVE.

This is a classic album by Mobley, in the tradition of Soulstation, another classic date. Mobley's compositions are really enjoyable in my opinion--highly melodic and swinging. Highly recommended.

I've read (not on amazon) some critics reviews of this album where they called it overly complex. Well I don't know what album that they were listening to. The rhythms, syncopations, and timing are so well orchestrated and flow so easily I don't know how anyone (with a good ear) could have anything but praise for this fabulous disc.

Although I only own 3 of Hank's albums this one is by far the best that I own to this point. The first time I heard it in a record store I was like 'What is that?' Man it just really grabbed me and now it's probably one of my favorite Jazz discs. And that's even beating out stuff by Miles, Dizzy, Coltrane, ...

Its' sugar for the ears

There are three Hank Mobley albums, in my opinion, that stand above the rest (even though the rest are generally good). These are Soul Station, Workout and Roll Call.

Workout is the ultimate Mobley jam session. Mobley's melodies, as usual, are outstanding, and his solos, while not groundbreaking, are wonderful. The addition of Grant Green's guitar is great on this album, particularly his performance on Uh-Huh.

Uh-Huh is my favorite song on here. A great hook, and I can't decide which solo is my favorite, from Hank to Green to Wynton Kelly on piano. The title track is filled with energy, including some great work by Philly Joe Jones on drum. Smokin' is another good song that sounds like something you'd hear at a great live show at a jazz club. Best Things In Life Are Free is a typical Mobley cover in that it's beautifully melodic and avoids the trappings of trying to be so unique that it loses its essence -- it's much like If I Should Lose You from Soul Station in that regard.

I could go on all day about Mobley, whom I consider to be woefully underappreciated. We all know how great Coltrane and Miles were, but it's not fair to downgrade Mobley because he didn't delve into avant-garde madness like Trane or repeatedly reinvent himself over the course of 30 years like Davis. For 10-15 years, Mobley continuously released quality, easy-and-fun-to-listen-to jazz albums, and this is among his three best.

What a great album. Mobley sax frases are premium quality, a delight to hear. Wynton Kelly at piano works explendid with Mobley aswell Paul Chambers at Bass, Philly Joe Jones, for me, over plays a little. This album is a classic, a must have for Jazz lovers.

while this is an excellent record,this particular japanese rvg is somewhat tinny and the low end is not so dynamic.but there's no telling if a reissue will be done on vinyl.....