It's a sign of the sheer volume of top-notch hard bop that Blue Note was recording in the 1950s-60s that a supremely swinging date like Hank Mobley's 1957 album Curtain Call would sit in the vaults unreleased until 1984. Mobley himself was in the middle of a particularly prolific streak that year with the tenor saxophonist recording six sessions for Blue Note in 1957 alone. This highly enjoyable six-song set includes four Mobley originals including the extended opener "Don't Get To Hip," the hard-charging title track, and the bright swing of "The Mobe" along with two standards ("Deep In A Dream" and "My Reverie") performed by a quintet with Mobley joined by Kenny Dorham on trumpet, Sonny Clark on piano, Jimmy Rowser on bass, and Art Taylor on drums.

 

The Tone Poet Audiophile Vinyl Reissue Series was born out of Blue Note President Don Was' admiration for the exceptional audiophile Blue Note LP reissues presented by Music Matters. Was brought Joe Harley, a.k.a. the "Tone Poet," on board to curate and supervise a series of reissues from the Blue Note family of labels.

 

Extreme attention to detail has been paid to getting these right in every conceivable way, from the jacket graphics and printing quality to superior LP mastering (direct from the master tapes) by Kevin Gray to superb 180g audiophile LP pressings by Record Technology Inc. Every aspect of these Tone Poet releases is done to the highest possible standard. It means that you will never find a superior version. This is IT.

 

This stereo Tone Poet Vinyl Edition was produced by Joe Harley, mastered by Kevin Gray (Cohearent Audio) from the original analog master tapes, pressed on 180g vinyl at Record Technology Inc. (RTI), and packaged in a deluxe gatefold tip-on jacket.

 

Jimmy Rowser bass

Art Taylor drums

Sonny Clark piano

Hank Mobley tenor saxophone

Kenny Dorham trumpet

 

Don't Get Too Hip

Curtain Call

Deep In A Dream

Side B:

The Mobe

My Reverie

On The Bright Side