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Another outstanding find. The Jazz Crusaders’ second album for Pacific Jazz, “Lookin’ Ahead,” had the original four guys–Joe Sample, Wayne Henderson, Wilton Felder, and Stix Hooper–plus Jimmy Bond on bass to make it sound just right. You can totally hear the band’s style developing on “Lookin Ahead.” The sax and trombone are front and center, and Joe Sample’s piano makes it all complete. The band wrote seven out of the nine songs on the album, like ‘The Young Rabbits,’ which was a classic from the 60s that people really loved hearing live. This album has two cover songs: ‘Tonight’ from West Side Story and ‘Song of India’, a classical piece that Joe Sample arranged. Their first album, FREEDOM SOUND, came out after The Jazz Crusaders got their start in the Los Angeles soul jazz scene in the early 1960s. Original mono Pacific Jazz records.

In this piece, trumpeter Donald Byrd’s stylistic approach creates a wonderful musical partnership with Hank Mobley; both were in the 1956 group of the Jazz Messengers with Art Blakey. Released on Blue Note Records, the album “Blackjack” distinguishes itself from most of his other Blue Note recordings by offering a sound that is characterized as hard, funky, and possessing a more edgy feel. Hank Mobley’s tenor is joined at the front by Sonny Red’s piercing alto, who was in remarkable form then, having impressed on Byrd’s previous albums “Mustang” and “Slow Drag.” The beautiful harmony between the captivating piano of Cedar Walton is further enriched by the rhythmic foundation laid down by Walter Booker on bass, who was also a member of the JFK quintet, and the drumming of Billy Higgins, a perennial favorite among Blue Note listeners. In my opinion, the performance was exceptionally impressive, especially within the context of mid-sixties hard-bop music. You need to get this jam if you don't already have it. The compositions featured in this collection include “Blackjack” and “Pentatonic,” both works by Byrd, alongside three pieces contributed by Sonny Red: “West of the Pecos,” “Loki,” and “Beale Street.” My favorite among these selections is “Eldorado,” a composition penned by Mitch Farber, who was a student of Donald’s at Michigan State University. Blue Note / Liberty Records release BST 84259.

“Riverside Drive” is a jazz compilation that draws inspiration from the iconic work of Riverside Records. The top jazz artists from the 50s we’re featuring include Thelonious Monk, Kenny Dorham, Donald Byrd, Clark Terry, Johnny Griffin, Sonny Rollins, Hank Mobley, Max Roach, and many others. Donald Byrd and Hank Mobley are on two tracks, playing with the Kenny Drew quintet. This is a 1958 DG mono Riverside Records 12-267. #mobleyrelated

Here’s my analysis of our previous discussion about Lee Morgan and Hank Mobley. Today, we’ll discuss one of my favorites from this amazing duo. The album is titled “Charisma,” released in 1969 by Blue Note Records. Also featured is altoist Jackie McLean, who took part in the successful recording “Cornbread.” Cedar Walton: piano, Paul Chambers: bass, and Billy Higgins: drums. This performance is built on a swinging foundation provided by musicians who are featured on many Blue Note albums. Overall, this is top-tier mid-60s hard bop, and Morgan excels on the uncomplicated but potent uptempo tracks featured heavily on the record. You’ll probably want to hit repeat on “The Double Up,” the album’s cookin’ and hard-swinging blues, which concludes the record. The musicians seem relaxed on “Hey Chico” and Duke Pearson’s “Sweet Honey Bee,” yet never sounding dull. Their passion for the music is obvious, and they excel in every solo performance. Mobley’s saxophone tone is like butter, gliding through the music while retaining jazz’s fiery passion.
The complete collection of Morgan’s recordings released by Blue Note is highly recommended for any collector, and among these, “Charisma” stands out as an exceptional album, rivaling the quality of “Search for the New Land,” “Sidewinder,” and his later live performances recorded at the Lighthouse, all of which are essential additions to a collection. This is a stereo pressing from 1969 on Blue Note/Liberty Records.