Hank Mobley: An Online Guide

Steven Cerra has diligently listed all the earlier pieces on Hank Mobley that Bob Blumenthal referenced in his liner notes to our recent Mosaic set, The Complete Hank Mobley Blue Note Sessions (1963-70). He has provided links to their reprints on his JazzProfiles blog. A great way to get lost in the life and work of an overlooked master.

-Michael Cuscuna

Hank Mobley: An Online Treasure Chest

Steven Cerra has taken pains to collect as many essays about and interviews with Hank Mobley as he could find. On the release of our new Mobley Mosaic set, he has assembled a list of them with links for his blog, Jazz Profiles. Don’t miss John Litweiler’s 1973 Down Beat interview with Hank. This is a real treasure chest.

-Michael Cuscuna

Tim Owens Accepting the 2001 Peabody Award for “Jazz Profiles”

This loving and insightful series, hosted by legendary jazz singer Nancy Wilson, combines an eclectic assortment of archival recordings with the voices of musicians and jazz experts. The blend makes one of America’s greatest cultural contributions accessible and relevant to jazz lovers and novices alike. Highlights in the standout 2001 series include a special four-part segment on the 75th birthdays of two of the most prominent and influential musicians in jazz: trumpeter Miles Davis and saxophonist John Coltrane. Other examples of dynamic programming are a pair of shows examining unusual instruments in jazz, another examining the importance of lyrics, and another that examined life on the road for jazz musicians. But ringing through all the background and context is Jazz Profiles’ continuing emphasis on the music.

John Coltrane would have been 85 today. More than 40 years after his death, he remains the most influential tenor saxophonist in jazz history. Whether it's his patented "sheets of sound," his rapid-fire improvisations or his bold, cathartic wails, all aspiring jazz saxophonists know the music of Coltrane. His career was characterized by a constant, exponential advancement in improvisational technique and ideas.