‘Thinking Of Home’, after more than twenty albums as
bandleader, was Hank Mobley’s final session with Blue Note. Recorded in 1970,
it would go unreleased until a decade later, and he would record only one more ever
album in 1972, before completely disappearing from the jazz world.
With Mobley for his label farewell is the excellent
trumpeter Woody Shaw, who gets to show some good solo fire alongside longtime
Mobley sideman Cedar Walton, and largely unknown guitarist Eddie Diehl. Both
men get good spots, but this is firmly the Mobley/Shaw show. Mickey Bass and
Lex Humphries are also present to provide a solid yet largely noteless no-frills
rhythm.
A three-part suite opens, showing a rare long-form
composition from Mobley. It’s a good start if sometimes a little flat, before
‘Justine’ creeps in. An open and contemplative piece, it lasts for thirteen
minutes and features some solid solos from everyone except ironically Mobley,
but overall it runs out of steam long before it comes to an end, and ultimately
drags its heels to the finish. ‘You Gotta Hit It’ elevates things with a nice stomping
hard bop and signals a strong second half to the session where everyone sounds
a bit more relaxed, including the one boogaloo piece here ‘Talk About Gittin’
It’.
‘Thinking Of Home’ is a somewhat surprising later
Mobley recording. There’s no obvious commercial drive or over-arching formula
here, but instead a lot of modal ideas. But, while refreshing from the glut of
his other later work, it sounds mostly limited and awkward. Most importantly
and sadly though, Mobley sounds decidedly ‘off’ throughout. His tone, that
was bright and full of life during his time with Art Blakey and on his own
prime Blue Note early sixties work, is here grey and lifeless. And as a player
too he heartbreakingly sounds very tired and burned out (he even looks
knackered on the album cover photo).
This
isn’t a recommendable piece of Mobleys history. There are much stronger points
for newcomers and for anyone who wants to delve deeper beyond his handful of
classics and excellent albums, there are better destinations. It has it’s
moments but, with the overall feeling being one of sadness at how good he used
to sound, only Mobley die-hards, (of whom I count myself), will truly want this
one.
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