Hank Mobley - The Flip (1969) [re-rip]

Late work by tenor giant Hank Mobley - and a really unique session that stands out from his other Blue Note work of the time! The set was recorded in Paris with an ultra-hip lineup - one that features Dizzy Reece on trumpet and Slide Hampton on trombone - both fresh players alongside Hank's work on tenor sax, making for really wonderful phrasing and timing in the front line! The bottom's pretty great, too - with wicked rhythms from Philly Joe Jones on drums, at a level that bounces around with a growing sense of soul - yet still has all the complex colors of Mobley's classic work. The balance is beautiful - as fresh as the image on the cover - and the album's one that we'd rank right up there with The Phantom by Duke Pearson and Slow Drag by Donald Byrd - overlooked gems that show some great Blue Note growth in the late 60s. Titles include "The Flip", "Feelin' Folksy", and "Snappin' Out".  © Dusty Groove, Inc.

Blue Note, BST 84329, 1970

Recorded 12th July, 1969 at Studio Barclay, Paris, France

Musicians:

Hank Mobley - Tenor Saxophone

Dizzy Reece - Trumpet

Slide Hampton - Trombone

Vince Benedetti - Piano

Alby Cullaz - Bass

Philly Joe Jones - Drums

Tracks:
A1. The Flip (9:02)
A2. Feelin' Folksy (8:29)
B1. Snappin' Out (7:13)
B2. 18th Hole (5:59)
B3. Early Morning Stroll (6:52)

All compositions by Hank Mobley 

Total Time: 37:35 

Credits:
Producer - Francis Wolff
Recording Engineer - Jacques Yves Barral
Rerecording Engineer, Lacquer Cut - Rudy van Gelder
Cover Design - Bob Venosa, Havona
Art Direction - Frank Gauna
Liner Notes - Leonard Feather 

Leonard Feather once hailed Hank Mobley as "the middleweight champion of the tenor saxophone." Mobley was better than that. An exquisite soul messenger, Mobley was criticized for not being as aggressive, voluminous, or trailblazing as his contemporaries. Indeed, he was not. Instead, his music was steeped in care, precision and nuances. In Mobley's hands, such treatment often dazzled, as on this Blue Note LP, The Flip. He's supported by an excellent crew of international musicians, including Dizzy Reece on trumpet, Slide Hampton on trombone, Vince Benedetti on piano, Alby Cullaz on bass and Philly Joe Jones on drums. All the tunes on The Flip were composed by Mobley and are built around his strengths of soul, swing, and subtlety. Listen to the opening statements of the title track, the punch of the horns, the dance of the rhythm section, and the sheer joy of it all. It's a vicious groove by all accounts, as the members revel in this boogaloo scene. The charms do not end with Mobley, either. Hampton's trombone wailings are often clever and valuable throughout the album. Check out Reece's trumpet solos on "Snappin' Out," and "18th Hole." Jones, as always, is beyond compliments. The true surprise on this album is the pianist, Benedetti. His accompaniments are in excellent taste, as are those of Cullaz. True, this album and its composer will never be within the ranks of the most influential, the most revered, or even the most downloaded. Fine. Besides, as a provocateur of beauty, Mobley is in a class all his own. ~ excerpts from Germein Linares, All About Jazz.

LINK

18th Hole