1979 studio album by Hank Mobley
A Slice of the Top is an album by jazz saxophonist Hank Mobley , recorded in early 1966.[ 1] The album was not released on the Blue Note label until 1979. It features performances by Mobley with a larger than usual ensemble of trumpeter Lee Morgan , euphonium player Kiane Zawadi , tuba player Howard Johnson , alto saxophonist James Spaulding , pianist McCoy Tyner , bassist Bob Cranshaw , and drummer Billy Higgins . The arrangements were written by Duke Pearson . On the original LP, Reggie Workman was mistakenly identified on the sleeve as the bassist.
Composition and Release [ edit ]
Mobley composed the music for the album in 1964 while imprisoned for a narcotics offence. The sheet music was given to Duke Pearson to arrange while Mobley was incarcerated.[ 2]
Mobley was bitter about Blue Note delaying the release of the album until over a decade after it was recorded. In an interview, Mobley complained:
I have about five records on the shelf - Blue Note had half the black musicians around New York City, and now the records are just lying around. What they do is just hold it and wait for you to die.[ 3]
The AllMusic review by Scott Yanow stated: "Mobley, who continued to evolve into a more advanced player throughout the 1960s, fits right in with such adventurous players as altoist James Spaulding, trumpeter Lee Morgan (with whom Mobley recorded frequently), pianist McCoy Tyner, bassist Reggie Workman and drummer Billy Higgins. The inclusion of Kiane Zawadi on euphonium and Howard Johnson on tuba adds a lot of color to this memorable outing."[ 4]
All compositions by Hank Mobley except as noted
"Hank's Other Bag" – 7:12
"There's a Lull In My Life" (Mack Gordon , Harry Revel ) – 5:25
"Cute 'N Pretty" – 7:36
"A Touch of the Blues" – 8:46
"A Slice of the Top" - 9:40
Hank Mobley - tenor saxophone
James Spaulding - alto saxophone
Lee Morgan - trumpet
Kiane Zawadi - euphonium
Howard Johnson - tuba
McCoy Tyner - piano
Bob Cranshaw - bass
Billy Higgins - drums
Year(s) indicated are for the recording(s), not first release, except for the compilation section
As leader or co-leader With others
At the Cafe Bohemia, Vol. 1 (Art Blakey /The Jazz Messengers , 1955)
At the Cafe Bohemia, Vol. 2 (Art Blakey/The Jazz Messengers, 1955)
The Jazz Messengers (Art Blakey, 1956)
Originally (Art Blakey/The Jazz Messengers, 1956 [1982])
At the Jazz Corner of the World (Art Blakey/The Jazz Messengers, 1959)
All Night Long (Kenny Burrell , 1956)
K.B. Blues (1957 [1979])
Byrd's Eye View (Donald Byrd , 1955)
Byrd in Flight (Donald Byrd, 1960)
A New Perspective (1963)
Mustang! (Donald Byrd, 1966)
Blackjack (Donald Byrd, 1967)
Dial "S" for Sonny (Sonny Clark , 1957)
My Conception (Sonny Clark, 1957)
Someday My Prince Will Come (Miles Davis , 1961)
In Person Friday and Saturday Nights at the Blackhawk, Complete (Miles Davis, 1961)
Miles Davis at Carnegie Hall (1961)
Afro-Cuban (Kenny Dorham , 1955)
Whistle Stop (Kenny Dorham, 1961)
This Is New (Kenny Drew , 1957)
Undercurrent (Kenny Drew, 1960)
Farmer's Market (Art Farmer , 1956)
The Opener (Curtis Fuller , 1957)
Sliding Easy (Curtis Fuller, 1959)
Afro (Dizzy Gillespie , 1954)
Dizzy and Strings (Dizzy Gillespie, 1954)
Jazz Recital (Dizzy Gillespie, 1954–55)
I Want to Hold Your Hand (Grant Green , 1965)
A Blowin' Session (Johnny Griffin , 1957)
My Point of View (Herbie Hancock , 1963)
Informal Jazz (Elmo Hope , 1956)
Goin' Up (Freddie Hubbard , 1960)
Blue Spirits (Freddie Hubbard, 1965)
The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson Volume 2 (1955)
Together! (Elvin Jones and Philly Joe Jones , 1961)
Midnight Walk (Elvin Jones, 1966)
I Wanna Talk About You (Tete Montoliu , 1980)
Introducing Lee Morgan (1956)
Lee Morgan Sextet (1956)
Cornbread (Lee Morgan , 1965)
Charisma (1966)
The Rajah (1966)
Tenor Conclave (Prestige All Stars, 1957)
Star Bright (Dizzy Reece , 1959)
The Cool Voice of Rita Reys (1956)
Good Move! (Freddie Roach 1963)
The Max Roach Quartet featuring Hank Mobley (1953)
Max Roach + 4 (1956)
The Max Roach 4 Plays Charlie Parker (1957)
MAX (Max Roach , 1958)
Yasmina, a Black Woman (Archie Shepp , 1969)
Poem for Malcolm (Archie Shepp, 1969)
Horace Silver and the Jazz Messengers (1954–55)
Silver's Blue (Horace Silver , 1956)
6 Pieces of Silver (Horace Silver, 1956–58)
The Stylings of Silver (Horace Silver, 1957)
A Date with Jimmy Smith Volume One (1957)
A Date with Jimmy Smith Volume Two (1957)
Julius Watkins Sextet (1955)
Compilations Related articles
Year(s) indicated are for the recording(s), not first release .
As leader or co-leader WithArt Blakey & The Jazz Messengers WithHank Mobley With others
Minor Move (Tina Brooks , 1958)
Blue Train (John Coltrane , 1957)
Intensity (Charles Earland , 1972)
Charles III (Charles Earland, 1972)
Brass Shout (Art Farmer , 1959)
Sliding Easy (Curtis Fuller , 1959)
The Curtis Fuller Jazztet (1959)
Images of Curtis Fuller (1960)
Dizzy in Greece (Dizzy Gillespie , 1957)
Birks' Works (Dizzy Gillespie, 1957)
Dizzy Gillespie at Newport (Dizzy Gillespie, 1957)
Benny Golson and the Philadelphians (Benny Golson , 1958)
A Blowin' Session (Johnny Griffin , 1957)
Mode for Joe (Joe Henderson , 1966)
Last Chorus (Ernie Henry , 1957)
Grass Roots (Andrew Hill , 1968)
Lift Every Voice (Andrew Hill, 1969)
Flute-In (Bobbi Humphrey , 1971)
The Prime Element (Elvin Jones , 1969)
Drums Around the World (Philly Joe Jones , 1959)
The Great Wide World of Quincy Jones (1959)
Cliff Jordan (Clifford Jordan , 1957)
Kelly Great (Wynton Kelly , 1959)
Greasy Kid Stuff! (Harold Mabern , 1970)
Jacknife (Jackie McLean , 1965)
Consequence (Jackie McLean, 1965)
Evolution (Grachan Moncur , 1963)
Introducing Wayne Shorter (1959)
Night Dreamer (Wayne Shorter , 1964)
House Party (Jimmy Smith , 1957–58)
The Sermon! (Jimmy Smith, 1957–58)
Mr. Natural (Stanley Turrentine , 1964)
Tender Moments (McCoy Tyner , 1967)
Easterly Winds (Jack Wilson , 1967)
Mother Ship (Larry Young , 1969)
Love Bug (Reuben Wilson , 1969)
Years given are for the recording(s), not first release.
As leader or co-leader WithDonald Byrd With others Arranger only
I'm Tryin' to Get Home (for Donald Byrd]], 1964)
Lush Life (for Lou Donaldson , 1967)
Am I Blue (for Grant Green, 1963)
Boss Horn (for Blue Mitchell , 1966)
Heads Up! (for Blue Mitchell, 1968)
A Slice of the Top (for Hank Mobley , 1966)
Standards (for Lee Morgan , 1967)
Rough 'n' Tumble (for Stanley Turrentine , 1966)
A Bluish Bag (for Stanley Turrentine, 1967)
The Return of the Prodigal Son (for Stanley Turrentine, 1967)
The Look of Love (for Stanley Turrentine, 1968)