Harold Mabern: A Few Miles From Memphis

Although half of the program is comprised of somewhat simple soulful blues like the title track, "Walkin' Back, and "Syden Blues, Mabern's harmonic acumen and keen use of the saxophonists' contrasting sounds imparts a satisfying variety and discernible depth to the music. Additionally, the superbly swinging bossa nova "A Treat For Bea and mournful ballad "B & B (for Booker Little and Clifford Brown) are exceptionally beautiful compositions, both worthy of reexamination. And Mabern's arrangement of "There's A Kind Of Hush is a model of melodicism that overcomes the triteness of Herman's Hermits' Top 40 hit.

The disc's second session, originally issued as Rakin' and Scrapin', is a hard bopping quintet date on which the brilliant trumpeter Blue Mitchell shares the front line with Coleman and the excellent drummer Hugh Walker joins Lee in the backcourt. Mabern's original title track is a funky gospel blues in long meter on which Mitchell soars and Coleman digs in, before Mabern spreads out with both hands flying. "Such Is Life, another superbly lyrical Mabern ballad sprinkled with some unusual piano flourishes, is followed by "Aon, a Spanish-tinged burner by the leader in the Horace Silver tradition.

Mabern's arrangement of "I Heard It Through The Grapevine, an obvious attempt at commercial appeal, is somewhat dated by Walker's repetitive dance rhythm but does feature some appealing electric piano. The concluding "Valerie is a piano trio feature with Mabern demonstrating his virtuoso technique and signature commanding parallel octave playing, before engaging in a series of exciting exchanges with Walker.

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