"This I Dig of You" is one of the most celebrated tracks from Hank Mobley's 1960 Blue Note masterpiece Soul Station. Mobley's own composition features a 32-bar ABAC form in B-flat at a brisk 244 bpm, its catchy melody and sophisticated harmony exemplifying his gifts as a writer. In an unusual arrangement, pianist Wynton Kelly opens the solo section with three hard-swinging choruses before yielding to the leader. Mobley then delivers five commanding tenor saxophone choruses that build from lyrical understatement to intense, rhythmically driven climax, his solo widely studied by aspiring saxophonists for its masterful construction and melodic logic. Drummer Art Blakey closes with two explosive choruses of drum improvisation. Kelly's piano playing throughout is a masterclass in accompaniment, his comping responsive and propulsive, while bassist Paul Chambers and Blakey provide an unshakeable rhythmic foundation. The tune became a jazz standard and remains one of the most frequently transcribed solos in jazz education. Soul Station captures Mobley at the peak of his powers, and this track demonstrates why musicians and critics alike consider him one of the most underappreciated tenor saxophonists in jazz history.
