Leon Lee Dorsey Releases “Thank You Mr. Mabern”
Just under two years ago, the jazz world suffered a major blow with the loss of pianist Harold Mabern, who mastered the post-bop sound. Now his final studio recording is available thanks to bassist and band leader Leon Lee Dorsey.
Thank You Mr. Mabern pays tribute to the late pianist while also featuring his playing. Dorsey’s album, which also features drummer Mike Clark, was recorded two months before Mabern passed of a heart attack.
“I had been working with Harold in George Coleman’s octet and we did some quartet gigs together,” said Dorsey. “But, I just had not really done a recording with him. And we were kind of kicking it around last year about doing just that. Mike has his own legendary status being from the Bay Area and playing with Herbie Hancock, but he also played with a lot of great blues and R&B artists in his career. He and Harold had a lot in common and they kind of fell in love with each other at the session. Harold came in playing like a 21 year old. He was on fire — Mike fueled it.”
Hear the trio in action with Dorsey taking the melody on “Bye Bye Blackbird”:
Thank You Mr. Mabern is available now as a digital download through iTunes and Amazon MP3.
Thank You Mr. Mabern Track List:
- Rakin’ and Scrapin’ (Harold Mabern)
- Simone (Frank Foster)
- Bye Bye Blackbird (Ray Henderson)
- Summertime (George and Ira Gershwin)
- I’m Walkin (Antoine Domino and D. Bartholomew)
- Softly As A Morning Sunrise (Oscar Hammerstein II and Sigmund Romberg)
- Misty (Errol Garner)
- Moment’s Notice (John Coltrane)
