Hank Mobley
The Turnaround

‘The Turnaround’ consisted of material from two sessions and recorded with two separate groups.    Four tracks date from 4th February 1965 and two from 7th March 1963.  The 1963 features a group that includes Donald Byrd (trumpet), Herbie Hancock (piano), Butch Warren (bass) and Philly Joe Jones (drums).  The personnel changes entirely for the 1965 date where Freddie Hubbard is on trumpet, Barry Harris (piano), Paul Chambers (bass) and Billy Higgins (drums).  The album starts with its title tune, ‘The Turnaround’.  It is very similar to Lee Morgan ‘The Sidewinder’ with its clopped rhythm.  Unsurprisingly, Barry Harris provided the piano vamp for both. The first of the tracks from the 1963 session, ‘East Of The Village’ has a modal feel with a mild Middle Eastern flavour thrown in for good measure.  Sacha Distel’s ‘Good Life’, also from the 1963 recording, is a sensitive ballad that Mobley interprets with consummate sensitivity. ‘Straight Ahead’ is mainstream Hard Bop that grooves nicely – a solid if unspectacular Mobley piece, which is performed to a high standard with Hubbard’s bold and warm trumpet its highlight.  The ballad ‘My Sin’ enchanting.  The up-tempo Hard Bop ‘Pat N Chat’ flows with an effervescent zest.  Hubbard impresses once more, as he does throughout the 1965 session.  Hank Mobley composed five of the six tracks and continued to illustrate that he was full of ideas and interesting themes and melodies.