Track Listing

1. Three Way Split
2. Carolyn
3. Up A Step
4. No Room For Squares
5. Me 'N You
6. Old World New Imports
7. Carolyn
8. No Room For Squares

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #41972 in Music
• Released on: 2000-10-16
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Extra tracks, Original recording remastered
• Dimensions: .21 pounds

Amazon.co.uk Review
Of all the great tenor players of the modern era, the lyrical, round-toned and rhythmically sophisticated Hank Mobley (1930-86) remains the most consistently--and unfairly--underrated. Reissued with alternate takes of the title track and trumpeter Lee Morgan's lovely ballad "Carolyn", N o Room For Squares features Mobley with two groups, both recorded in 1963. The majority of the t racks put Mobley together with Morgan, Andrew Hill (piano), John Ore (bass) and Philly Joe Jones (drums), while "Up a Step" and "Old World, New Imports" match old sparring partners Mobley and Jones with Donald Byrd (trumpet), Herbie Hancock (piano) and Butch Warren (bass). While No Room is not quite on the same level as Mobley's classic Soul Station, Roll Call and Workout albums of a couple of years earlier, there's plenty to relish in its 55 minutes, including the overall quality of Mobley's compositions and the contrast between the rubato soulfulness of "Carolyn" and the funky riff which fires his other featured composition, the sexy "Me 'N You ". Hancock has a couple of exciting, beautifully balanced outings, while Hill (soon to record more avant-garde fare on Blue Note) offers both adroit comping and several well-turned solos. As for Mobley: just listen to the perfectly sprung blend of soulful lyricism and diverse rhythmic assertiveness which distinguishes his work on both takes of the modal, medium-up title track. His solos can be spoken of in the same breath as the finest by Armstrong, Young or Parker. --Michael Tucker

Customer Reviews

Plenty of room for brilliant quintet
This deserves a review. Not as highly rated it seems as Soul Station but to me his best work. Why?
- Lee Morgan (top trumpet player on hot form)
- Compositions - brilliant, shared by Mobley / Morgan
- themes - memorable
- solos - consistently on the money
- Hill AND Hancock on keys - nice contrast
- Philly on sticks
- Great funky be-bop and gorgeous Carolyn ballad
- CD clocks in at over 50 minutes (including 2 obligatory alternative tracks)
- unbelievably cheap (at present moment)
Oh, and almost forgot, leader Hank's fantastic tone and groove on tenor. The players all sound like they're enjoying these sessions and the ideas being swapped are truly inspiring. One of my top ten Blue Notes.

very disappointed buyer
I ordered the Cd-Hank Mobley-No Room for Squares aroung about the 26th March-this was part of my son's birthday present. I received an Email from Aquila-entertainment telling me that I should receive the Cd no later than the 15th April. I have sent TWO Emails to them becuase I have actually paid for this CD and have not had a reply from them. I am very disappointed and angry as I feel like I have been 'taken for a ride'!!!!! At this present time I woul d advise nobody to buy anything from these people.