1969 · Album
The Flip
Recorded July 12, 1969 in Paris, France · Blue Note · Produced by Not specified in available sources
A Solid Groove That Knew Its Place
Flip is solid hard bop from a saxophonist who never needed to prove how original he was.
The Flip arrived as a working musician's album, not a statement. Hank Mobley had already established himself—he knew what he did well, and this session in Paris with Dizzy Reece, Slide Hampton, Vince Benedetti, Alby Cullaz, and Philly Joe Jones was him doing exactly that. It's not one of his landmark records like Soul Station or Dippin', and the critics who heard it understood that immediately. AllMusic reviewer Thom Jurek gave it four stars but was clear about its place: solid, worthwhile, but not groundbreaking. That wasn't a slight—it was a fair reading of what was actually on the tape.
What makes Flip interesting is how comfortable it is in its own skin. The band swings without trying too hard, the tempo stays brisk, and everyone knows their role. Benedetti's piano work divided listeners; some found his metronomic comping under the horns a bit mechanical, while others appreciated the anchor it gave the soloists. The Guardian's John Fordham called the overall sound "pretty standard Blue Note hard bop" from an artist who didn't need to prove anything. That's not dismissal—Mobley was respected enough that a solid session was enough.
This album never became a cornerstone of anyone's collection, and it was never meant to. It's a record for people already committed to Mobley's catalog, not a gateway. It landed exactly as it was made: as professional, dependable hard bop from musicians who showed up and played their parts. That's often the most honest kind of jazz record.
Who's playing
Vince Benedettipiano
Hank Mobleytenor saxophone
Dizzy Reecetrumpet
Slide Hamptontrombone
Philly Joe Jonesdrums
Where next?
More by Hank Mobley
All 41 albums →
The musicians on this record
Their own records, close in time
