Harold Mabern – The Iron Man: Live At Smoke – Smoke Sessions Records SSR-1807 ( 2 CDs )1:43:05****:
( Harold Mabern – piano; Eric Alexander – tenor saxophone; John Webber – bass; Joe Farnsworth – drums)
Harold Mabern’s career has stretched from the 1960s to the present day and from R&B to soul jazz to hard bop. He is a pianist of outstanding technical craftsmanship, with a forceful two handed style that makes the keyboard sound like is being played by four hands. In the Smoke Sessions Records release The Iron Man: Live At Smoke, Mabern and his cohorts of long standing, tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander, bassist John Webber, and drummer Joe Farnsworth extract a musical story that encapsulates a lifetime devoted to the jazz form.
This live 2 CD session comes at the end of the band’s three week holiday stay at the club. They had already put in the can a planned live recording from this date on the Friday and Saturday nights, so there was no reason to record again on Sunday.
Nevertheless the tape was turned on, and in a relaxed frame of mind, they ran through a cavalcade of their favourites starting with one of Mabern’s own compositions “A Few Miles From Memphis” which was the name of his debut album on Prestige Records in 1968.The funky groove that Mabern establishes on the number harkens back his foundation in the soul jazz movement of the time. The number is filled with Mabern’s self-confident strutting feel, while Alexander’s full toned sax is blazingly inventive.
The lone trio offering on CD 1 is the Benny Golson composition “I Remember Clifford”. One of Mabern’s earliest gigs when he arrived in New York City was to replace McCoy Tyner in the Art Farmer/Benny Golson co-lead group The Jazztet. The interpretation that the Mabern trio delivers here is replete with emotion and is set off by some Garneresque block chording and dramatic flourishes.
Mabern has always had a soft spot for both the compositions and the playing of John Coltrane. So he takes a bow in Coltrane’s direction on CD 1 with “Dear Lord” and on CD 2 “Mr. P.C.” On the first number Eric Alexander’s tenor sax blows up a storm with his hard driving sound as Mabern’s piano is flamboyantly accommodating both in support and during his solo excursion. “Mr. P.C.” makes a hard right turn with Mabern back in trio mode, as he covers the number in a waltz-like fashion. In keeping with the theme, bassist Webber takes a thoughtful solo and drummer Farnsworth offers a compelling excursion on his drum kit.
The second Mabern original composition is “ Nightlife In Tokyo”. Filled with percussive vitality, the band swoops and dives developing power and certainty and the theme unfolds. Mabern two handed attack is formidable and Alexander is in full throttle on tenor sax. The remaining Mabern composition is “Rakin’ And Scrapin’” a rhythmic strut, with the notes stuffed into a sonic force in which both Mabern and Alexander play roughly but with a colourful harmonic touch.
A wonderful change of pace is the Richard Rodgers & Lorenz Hart ballad “You Are Too Beautiful” that opens with a commanding and thoughtful solo excursion from Alexander. Mabern in turn shows a resourcefulness and a high standard of artistic playfulness in his improvisation.
This double release is filled with playing at the highest level coupled with intriguing examples of improvisation.
Track List:
Disc 1:
A Few Miles From Memphis
I Get A Kick Out Of You
I Know That You Know
I Remember Clifford
T-Bone Steak
Almost Like being In Love
Dear Lord
Disc 2:
Nightlife In Tokyo
She’s Out Of My Life
How Insensitive
Mr. P.C.
On A Clear Day (You Can See Forever)
You Are Too Beautiful
Rakin’ And Scrapin’
—Pierre Giroux
More Information and music samples available at Smoke Sessions Records Website:
