John Coltrane
“...there is a strong evidence of his having strengthened his playing recently through the assimilation of some of John Coltrane's more effective and dramatic devices.”[1]
Lester Young
“I've always thought of Hank as the Lester Young of the Hard Bop era. He always sounded so relaxed no matter how fast the tempo might be. He was always soulful and swingin'.”[2]
“Hank came out of Lester Young, and his lines were cool and hip.”[3]
Charlie Parker
“...like all [post-bebop saxophonists], he comes from Charlie Parker.” - Javon Jackson[4]
“Certainly Parker's impact was felt more keenly by Mobley's than by any other generation.”[5]
Sonny Rollins
“He was strongly influenced by Sonny Rollins...” - Javon Jackson[6]
[1]P. W., “Hank Mobley,” review of Soul Station, by Hank Mobley, Downbeat, 8 December 1960, 44.
[2]Kenny Washington, liner notes to The Jazz Messengers, by Art Blakey, Columbia Records, CL 897, 1997.
[3]Eddie Henderson, liner notes to Someday My Prince Will Come, by Miles Davis, Columbia Records, CL 1656, 1999.
[4]Alan Goldsher, Hard Bop Academy: The Sidemen of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers (New York: Hal Leonard, 2002), 49.
[5]Frank Litweiler, “Hank Mobley: The Integrity of the Artist—the Soul of the Man,” Downbeat, 1973, 14.
[6]Alan Goldsher, Hard Bop Academy: The Sidemen of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers (New York: Hal Leonard, 2002), 49.
