The Birth of Hard Bop explores Savoy sessions from tenor saxophonist
Hank Mobley and trumpeters
Donald Byrd and
Lee Morgan early in their careers. The majority of material has been previously released, however five alternate and previously unissued takes are included. Recorded between January and November 1956, with
Mobley as the leader, playing on all tracks except the first three which fall under
Byrd's leadership.
Morgan's contributions surface on the last seven tracks, again under
Mobley's leadership and excluding
Byrd. The list of sidemen are hard bop (and bop) pioneers including
Horace Silver,
Barry Harris,
Doug Watkins,
Kenny Clarke,
Hank Jones, and
Arthur Taylor. This is a welcomed reissue with great sound and informative liner notes by Doug Ramsey in which the stifling term "hard bop" is thoroughly examined. ~ Al Campbell