This transcription is a personal one for me. When I was in high school, I played this solo (from a written transcription) for All-County, All-State and college auditions. I made first chair tenor saxophone in the Erie County All-County Jazz A Band in 2008, and played this for my Berkelee audition as well.
I’ve always wanted to tackle this solo as a transcription project, to really learn it, and not just play it from a page. A month ago, I finally started on this journey.
The Life And Times Of Hank Mobley
Born in Georgia and raised in New Jersey, Hank Mobley had a prolific career as a sideman and bandleader on Blue Note Records. Known for his lithe phrasing and Lester Young-influenced tone, noted critic Leonard Feather hailed Hank as the “Middleweight Champion of the Saxophone”. For a brief period, he was in Miles Davis’ band, appearing on the 1961 release Some Day My Prince Will Come.
As the “Middleweight Champion of the Saxophone”, his sound was less imposing than the full-tilt styles of John Coltrane or Sonny Rollins, and his place in the pantheon of the tenor saxophone reflects this diminutive title.
His place in Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers collective put him on the map as an inventive soloist. He was unique for the era in the sense that his releases on Blue Note primarily feature original compositions.
One such composition, This I Dig Of You, is a must-know tune for jam sessions, and provides an essential solo ripe with great vocabulary for budding saxophonists to transcribe as they break into faster tempos.
Learning The Solo
Let’s have a listen to the tune from 1960’s Blue Note release Soul Station:
The tune is in ABAB’ form. The A sections offer a sparse tonal landscape to improvise over, while the B sections create a stark contrast in harmonic rhythm.
This contrast between sections creates a balanced composition and a sense of tranquility that’s countered with energy and tension. It’s a great vehicle for improvisation and a beloved tune so often heard on jam sessions around the world.
This record is a classic and I highly recommend checking it out. I have been coming back to this album since I was first introduced to it in high school and cannot understate its influence on my approach to playing the saxophone.
The Solo
Without further adieu, here’s my PDF of the transcription for you to check out!
Parting Wisdom
We’ll be working on more transcriptions and they will always be posted on my site when they’re finished and uploaded. In the pursuit of quality, I will occasionally update and revise the solos when errors are discovered, or as I continue to hone my engraving skills.
I’m now working on Joe Henderson’s solo from Recorda-Me, another jam session staple.
Stay tuned for that, and even more great saxophone content.
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Matt Mrozinski 