Davis and Mobley were great together
rash67 | USA | 04/30/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The underrated 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 Holiday).
In the song "Someday my Prince", Miles starts the solos and lays down the general tempo. Hank Mobley listens very carefully, comes in next, with a mirror image solo, similar structure, similar tempo, thoughtful lyrical, just like Davis. Then Coltrane comes in, much too hard and much too loud, with a solo completely unlike what anyone else in the group was playing. Like throwing battery acid over the whole recording...(Other reviewers have called Mobley "tentative" because he listened to what Davis was playing and didn't jump in, blowing as hard as he could. I disagree.)
For the rest of the album you hear the interplay of Mobley and Davis who fit together hand-in-glove, instead of fighting each other (in "Blackhawk - Live" - hear "Bye Bye Blackbird"). Coltrane was unhappy the MD group and soon to leave (it shows).
Davis and Mobley were great together. Mobley listened better than nearly anyone else, to Miles Davis and other trumpeters. Why they didn't play together more is a mystery to me. The only sense I can make of it is that Coltrane was a mustard-contrast to Davis honey. Mobley was his mirror/shadow; Davis prefered contrast.
This (underrated) album is one of the ten best by Miles Davis.
"
Track Listings (8) - Disc #1