ENDEIT

Saxophonists · 1930–1986

Hank Mobley

American saxophonist (1930-1986)

Born
7 July 1930
Eastman
Died
30 May 1986
Philadelphia
Country
United States
Active
1949–1986
Record labels
Blue Note, Prestige
Discography
38 albums

Biography

Hank Mobley was a jazz musician who played saxophone and tenor saxophone. Hank Mobley was born on 7 July 1930 in Eastman and died on 30 May 1986 in Philadelphia. The music is usually filed under jazz, soul and hard bop. Record labels: Blue Note and Prestige. The discography here lists 38 albums, from “Hank Mobley Quartet” (1955) to “Les Géants Du Jazz: Echoes Of The Dream” (2024).

Henry Mobley (July 7, 1930 – May 30, 1986) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist and composer. Mobley was described by Leonard Feather as the "middleweight champion of the tenor saxophone", a metaphor used to describe his tone, that was neither as aggressive as John Coltrane nor as mellow as Lester Young, and his style that was laid-back, subtle and melodic, especially in contrast with players such as Coltrane and Sonny Rollins. The critic Stacia Proefrock claimed him "one of the most underrated musicians of the bop era." Mobley's compositions include "Double Exposure", "Soul Station", and "Dig Dis".

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Discography

Studio and live albums

Hank Mobley Quartet 1955 · Blue Note The Max Roach Quartet featuring Hank Mobley 1955 · Debut Mobley's Message 1956 · Prestige The Jazz Message of Hank Mobley 1956 · Savoy Records With Donald Byrd and Lee Morgan 1956 · Blue Note Hank Mobley 1957 · Blue Note Hank Mobley Quintet 1957 · Blue Note Hank Mobley and His All Stars 1957 · Blue Note Jazz Message #2 1957 · Savoy Records Tenor Conclave 1957 · Prestige Monday Night at Birdland 1958 · Live · Roulette Peckin’ Time 1958 · Blue Note Roll Call 1960 · Blue Note Soul Station 1960 · Blue Note Workout 1961 · Blue Note No Room for Squares 1963 · Blue Note Dippin’ 1965 · Blue Note The Turnaround! 1965 · Blue Note A Caddy for Daddy 1966 · Blue Note Hi Voltage 1967 · Blue Note Reach Out! 1968 · Blue Note The Flip 1969 · Blue Note A Slice of the Top 1979 · Blue Note Poppin' 1980 · Blue Note Thinking of Home 1980 · Blue Note Third Season 1980 · Blue Note Far Away Lands 1985 · Blue Note Another Workout 1986 · Blue Note Straight No Filter 1986 · Blue Note
Another Monday Night at Birdland 1988 · Live
Curtain Call 1996 · Blue Note
Live at the Left Bank Jazz Society Baltimore, 1967 2000 · Live
Complete The Jazz Message Sessions with Kenny Clarke 2003 · The Jazz Factory Monday Nights At Birdland: Complete Recordings 2009 · Fresh Sound Records
Newark 1953 2012 · Live
Poppin' 2017 · Blue Note To One So Sweet - Hank Mobley in Holland 2017 · Nederlands Jazz Archief Les Géants Du Jazz: Echoes Of The Dream 2024 · Mouton Records

Also plays on

Albums where Hank Mobley is credited as a sideman

1955 Diz and Getz — Diz and Getz tenor saxophone
1955 Byrds Eye View — Donald Byrd tenor saxophone
1955 Horace Silver and the Jazz Messengers — Horace Silver and The Jazz Messengers tenor saxophone
1955 The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson, Volume 2 — Jay Jay Johnson tenor saxophone
1955 Afro-Cuban — Kenny Dorham tenor saxophone
1956 4, 5 and 6 — Jackie McLean tenor saxophone
1957 This Is New — Donald Byrd, Hank Mobley, Kenny Drew tenor saxophone
1957 Volume 2, Sextet — Lee Morgan tenor saxophone
1957 Introducing Lee Morgan — Lee Morgan with Hank Mobley Quintet tenor saxophone
1957 All Night Long — Kenny Burrell tenor saxophone
1957 Hank Mobley Quintet — Cedar Walton & Hank Mobley Quintet tenor saxophone
1957 A Blowin' Session — Johnny Griffin tenor saxophone
1957 The Opener — Curtis Fuller tenor saxophone
1957 A Date With Jimmy Smith, Volume 2 — Jimmy Smith tenor saxophone
1957 The Cool Voice of Rita Reys — Rita Reys with the Jazz Messengers and Wessel Ilcken Combo tenor saxophone
1957 Dial “S” for Sonny — Sonny Clark tenor saxophone
1958 Farmer's Market — Art Farmer tenor saxophone
1960 Byrd in Flight — Donald Byrd tenor saxophone
1961 Whistle Stop — Kenny Dorham; Hank Mobley, Kenny Drew, Paul Chambers, Philly Joe Jones tenor saxophone
1961 Together! — Philly Joe Jones & Elvin Jones tenor saxophone
1961 Undercurrent — Kenny Drew tenor saxophone
1963 My Point of View — Herbie Hancock tenor saxophone
1963 A New Perspective — Donald Byrd tenor saxophone
1965 Body & Soul — Donald Byrd, Kenny Burrell, Frank Foster, Hank Mobley, Mal Waldron, Curtis Fuller, Paul Quinichette, Hank Jones tenor saxophone
1965 Cornbread — Lee Morgan tenor saxophone
1966 Mustang! — Donald Byrd tenor saxophone
1966 The Rajah — Lee Morgan tenor saxophone
1966 I Want to Hold Your Hand — Grant Green tenor saxophone
1967 Blackjack — Donald Byrd tenor saxophone
1967 Midnight Walk — Elvin Jones tenor saxophone

Standards written by Hank Mobley

TitleKeyFormGroove
Funk In Deep Freeze A♭ major AABA · 32 Medium swing
This I Dig Of You B♭ major ABAC · 32 Medium-up swing
Home At Last B♭ major AAB · 38 Bossa nova

Analysed solos by Hank Mobley

  • Doodlin'tenor saxophone · 121 BPM · Db-maj · 1954-11-13
  • Lady Birdtenor saxophone · 221 BPM · C-maj · 1955-11-11
  • Remembertenor saxophone · 166 BPM · Ab-maj · 1960-02-07
  • Soul Stationtenor saxophone · 102 BPM · Eb-maj · 1960-02-07

Listen on Spotify

Frequently asked questions

What instrument did Hank Mobley play?

Hank Mobley is known for playing saxophone and tenor saxophone.

When and where was Hank Mobley born?

Hank Mobley was born 7 July 1930 in Eastman.

What are Hank Mobley's best-known albums?

Albums in our database include Hank Mobley Quartet (1955), The Max Roach Quartet featuring Hank Mobley (1955), Mobley's Message (1956), The Jazz Message of Hank Mobley (1956) and With Donald Byrd and Lee Morgan (1956).

External links

Data compiled from open sources; see the source links below. Spotted an error? Let us know.