Hank Mobley
Hank Mobley | |
|---|---|
Mobley, c. 1956 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Henry Mobley |
| Born | July 7, 1930 Eastman, Georgia, U.S. |
| Died | May 30, 1986 (aged 55) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz, hard bop, soul jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer |
| Instrument | Tenor saxophone |
| Years active | 1949–1986 |
| Labels | Blue Note, Prestige, Savoy |
Henry Mobley (July 7, 1930 – May 30, 1986) was an American tenor saxophonist and composer. Mobley was described by Leonard Feather as the "middleweight champion of the tenor saxophone", a metaphor used to describe his tone, that was neither as aggressive as John Coltrane nor as mellow as Lester Young, and his style that was laid-back, subtle and melodic, especially in contrast with players such as Coltrane and Sonny Rollins. The critic Stacia Proefrock claimed him "one of the most underrated musicians of the bop era." Mobley's compositions include "Double Exposure", "Soul Station", and "Dig Dis".