Today we can only speculate as to why so many Blue Note sessions were not originally issued. Blue Note founder/producer Alfred Lion, known to be punctilious in upholding a very high standard for his product, sometimes felt that a particular session was not worthy of public release. While neither the playing nor writing is quite at the level of
Mobley's 1960 critically acclaimed
Soul Station (Blue Note 4031), "Curtain Call" is nevertheless a fine effort; yet it was only made available in 1984 by Toshiba EMI in Japan.
Kenny Dorham, who like
Mobley had worked in
Max Roach's group, is featured on trumpet. (
Dorham and
Mobley had also recorded together on an earlier
Mobley session for the Prestige label.) Highlights include the ballad "Deep in a Dream," which was to be re-recorded four years later with
Ike Quebec for inclusion on
Sonny Clark's great
Leapin' and Lopin' LP.
Hank's originals "Curtain Call" and "The Mobe" are sprightly and likable bop lines. Despite an occasional tendency for
Mobley's relaxed articulation to sound a bit languorous, his playing is generally enjoyable, and his writing exhibits character, maturity, and a uniquely rhythmic approach to crafting memorable melodies. ~ Lee Bloom