Part of tenor saxophonist Chad Lefkowitz-Brown's Standard Sessions project, this uptempo rendition of Hank Mobley's signature composition features a lean quartet format with pianist David Meder. Taken at a brisk pace well above 200 beats per minute, the arrangement moves quickly into the improvisation, with Lefkowitz-Brown delivering a three-chorus tenor saxophone solo that navigates the tune's distinctive ABAC form with fluid, commanding lines. Meder follows with a crisp two-chorus piano solo that brings his own harmonic sensibility to Mobley's changes. Originally recorded for Mobley's landmark 1960 album Soul Station, the tune has become one of the most frequently played hard bop compositions in the jazz repertoire, a test piece for saxophonists drawn to its swinging melody and satisfying chord progression. This 2017 recording captures two young New York-based musicians engaging with the hard bop tradition at full intensity, prioritizing spontaneous invention over elaborate arrangement. The straightforward quartet setting — saxophone, piano, bass, and drums — mirrors the classic format Mobley himself favored, letting the soloists stretch out with nothing to hide behind.
