Dig Dis by Hank Mobley
Why do you need to check out Hank Mobley
Hank Mobley was one of the founders of the Hard Bop movement which grew out of the bebop style in the late 1950s. As a member of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers,
Mobley recorded some of the first albums in this new bluesier style and went on to record more than 40 albums as a leader and sideman.
Soul Station is generally regarded as one of the best albums Mobley produced. The band features Art Blakey on drums with Wynton Kelly (piano) and Pau Chambers (bass) who would go on with Mobley to record with Miles Davis.
This is a great album to check out because of the beautiful clear melodic improvised lines from Mobley. It’s also interesting to note the way he pulls time around on certain phrases to create more tension.
Hank Mobley is a player you don’t hear a lot about but we can learn a lot from his melodic approach and phrasing.
Album: Soul Station
Label: Blue Note (1960)
Get the free download:
Download the free transcription of “Dig Dis” from Sax School Locker. Mobley’s playing here is a masterclass on how to improvise on a minor blues.