This is one of the best-known
Hank Mobley recordings, and for good reason. Although none of his four originals ("Workout," "Uh Huh," "Smokin'," "Greasin' Easy") caught on, the fine saxophonist is in top form. He jams on the four tunes, plus "The Best Things in Life Are Free," with an all-star quintet of young modernists -- guitarist
Grant Green, pianist
Wynton Kelly, bassist
Paul Chambers, and drummer
Philly Joe Jones -- and shows that he was a much stronger player than his then-current boss
Miles Davis seemed to think. [Some reissues add a version of "Three Coins in the Fountain" from the same date, originally released on
Another Workout.] ~ Scott Yanow