Hank Mobley: Soul Station

Even though Wynton Kelly and Paul Chambers are most often associated with Miles Davis (along with drummer Jimmy Cobb), this Hank Mobley date with drummer Art Blakey provides listeners with one of the ultimate hard-bop rhythm section lineups. The heavy swinging groove is rhythm-and-blues tinged, and the piano fills are saturated with soul and gospel music. A recurring theme of influential rhythm sections, they present a single, discernible sound that represents a distinct moment in musical time, yet they remain adaptable enough to fit that sound into any performance. On "Soul Station," they provide Hank Mobley with 9+ minutes of classic, unwavering, mid-tempo shuffle groove that contrasts with the other up-tempo or ballad tracks that dominate the remainder of the record.