Students, listen up: There is not one better soloist to learn the language of bebop. Start with Hank, then go on to everyone else. If every jazz program had a required curriculum, it should be that every student (of every instrument) must transcribe 20 Hank Mobley solos and be able to play them along with the records. Jazz education would then be in a much healthier place.
There would be no need for clumsy theory books.
The Montmartre tapes are classic. Hank is reaching beyond, really stretching. Also, great Tootie Heath - like he plays on the Prisoner.
Hank wasn't even invited to appear at the One Night of Blue Note concert at Town Hall in 1985, but he showed up anyway. After the concert, Kenny Washington and I cabbed Hank to Penn Station and gave him train fare back to Philly - he was broke (in more ways than one). Amazing that Blue Note couldn't honor one of their star recording artists.
Did Alfred havce anything to do with inviting the musicians? My guess is probaly not, I mean he gave a speach, right? And he wasn't the best of shape either. If Alfred didn't invite anyone and it was up to some other guy I would say, "Blue Note" didn't honor one of their recording stars.
I always thought they loved eachother: