1980 · Album
Thinking of Home
Recorded July 31, 1970 · Blue Note · Personnel: Hank Mobley (tenor saxophone), Woody Shaw (trumpet), Cedar Walton (piano), Eddie Diehl (guitar), Mickey Bass (bass), Leroy Williams (drums)
A Decade's Wait for Home
Mobley and Shaw trade ideas with the ease of musicians who trust each other completely.
Thinking of Home arrived in 1980, but the music inside had been waiting a long time. Hank Mobley recorded this session on July 31, 1970, then watched it sit in the Blue Note vault for ten years before anyone heard it. That gap matters. By 1980, Mobley was past his most visible years, and this album emerged as a kind of parenthetical statement — not a comeback, not a farewell, just a solid day's work finally getting its hearing.
The band Mobley brought in was sharp. Woody Shaw on trumpet brings his characteristic intelligence to every phrase, never flashy but always purposeful. Cedar Walton on piano knows exactly when to push and when to lay back, anchoring everything without taking over. Eddie Diehl on guitar, Mickey Bass on bass, and Leroy Williams on drums complete a tight sextet that swings without pretense. These five play like they've worked together before or at least understand the assignment: support Mobley's tenor, give him space, and keep the whole thing moving. Mobley himself is in good voice here — warm, direct, the kind of playing that doesn't need tricks.
This isn't a peak Mobley moment, but it's honest work from an artist who'd already given Blue Note plenty. By this point in his career, he was settling into a groove rather than chasing new territory. The album works best for listeners who already know Mobley's earlier recordings and want to hear how he sounded in his middle years. If you're new to him, start with Moanin' (1958) or Soul Station (1960) first. Thinking of Home is worth hearing once you've got your footing, but it's a footnote to a long career, not an entry point.
Who's playing
Mickey Bassbass
Cedar Waltonpiano
Eddie Diehlguitar
Hank Mobleytenor saxophone
Woody Shawtrumpet
Leroy Williamsdrums
Where next?
More by Hank Mobley
All 41 albums →
The musicians on this record
Their own records, close in time
