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The Max Roach Quartet featuring Hank Mobley was the debut album by American jazz drummer Max Roach featuring tracks recorded in 1953 and first released on the Debut label as a 10-inch LP.

Drummer Max Roach’s first studio session as a leader falls style-wise between bop and hard bop. The earlier set, which has four group originals played by a septet that also includes trumpeter Idrees Sulieman, trombonist Leon Comegys, altoist Gigi Gryce, Hank Mobley on tenor, pianist Walter Davis, Jr., and bassist Franklin Skeete, was the recording debut for both Mobley and Davis. The other session (two standards, two originals by Roach including his solo “Drum Conversation,” Mobley’s “Kismet,” and Charlie Parker’s “Chi Chi”) features the same rhythm section, with Mobley as the only horn. The music is enjoyable although not as essential as the great drummer’s later dates (Scott Yanow/AllMusic, http://bit.ly/2D40EH9).

Track listing:
“Cou-Manchi-Cou” (Max Roach) – 3:01
“Just One of Those Things” (Cole Porter) – 3:08
“The Glow Worm” (Paul Lincke, Johnny Mercer, Lilla C Robinson) – 2:27 Bonus track on 12 inch LP
“Mobleyzation” (Hank Mobley) – 2:42 Bonus track on 12 inch LP
“Chi-Chi” (Charlie Parker) – 2:58
“Kismet” (Mobley) – 2:39
“I’m a Fool to Want You” (Joel Herron, Frank Sinatra, Jack Wolf) – 3:13
“Sfax” (Max Roach) – 2:17 Bonus track on 12 inch LP
“Orientation” (Mobley) – 2:50 Bonus track on 12 inch LP
“Drum Conversation” (Max Roach)- 2:42
“Drum Conversation Part 2” (Max Roach) – 4:38 Bonus track on CD reissue

Personnel:
Max Roach – drums
Hank Mobley – tenor saxophone (tracks 1-9)
Walter Davis, Jr. – piano (tracks 1-9)
Franklin Skeete – bass (tracks 1-9)
Idrees Sulieman – trumpet (tracks 3, 4, 8 & 9)
Leon Comegys – trombone (tracks 3, 4, 8 & 9)
Gigi Gryce – alto saxophone (tracks 3, 4, 8 & 9)

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Released: 1954/1990
Recorded: April 10 & 21, 1953
New York City
Length: 32:35
Label: Debut/Original Jazz Classics