The Iron Man Live at Smoke

Product Description Jazz pianist Harold Mabern delivers an exhilarating career retrospective on this memorable live set. "The Iron Man: Live at Smoke"; was recorded on the final night of a remarkable three-week residency, an annual holiday tradition at the renowned New York City club. Featuring Mabern and his gifted, longstanding quartet tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander, bassist John Webber, and drummer Joe Farnsworth the album includes vigorously swinging and well-loved tunes from throughout Mabern's storied career. Whether you listen to these two discs as representing a single special evening or 82 memorable years, there's ample evidence that Harold Mabern deserves to be known as The Iron Man a powerhouse player, a formative mentor, a revered survivor. Review New Jazz Albums You Need to Know About: November 2018 Jazz master Harold Mabern swings through an album that represents an autobiography in song. Captured in the course of a single memorable night on stage at New York City s Smoke Jazz & Supper Club, The Iron Man packs a rich lifetime s worth of music, with the 82-year-old legendary pianist performing some of the favorite songs from his renowned career kicking off with the rollicking funk of the title track from his 1968 leader debut "A Few Miles from Memphis"; and featuring such tracks as "Nightlife in Tokyo"; and his takes on such songs as John Coltrane's "Mr. P.C.; and Michael Jackson's "She's Out of My Life." --Matt Micucci, JAZZIZ Hard-bopping pianist Harold Mabern may have made his recording debut in 1959 with drummer Walter Perkins' quintet and led his first session in 1968 for Blue Note on the soulful "A Few Miles From Memphis" but here he is, at 82, playing with straight-ahead, youthful joie de vivre on the story telling, life affirming, two-disc set "The Iron Man: Live at Smoke. " Working as hard as ever with his long standing trio of tenor saxophonist and former student Eric Alexander, bassist John Webber, and drummer Joe Farnsworth, Mabern, on this last night of an exhilarating three-week residency that saw his rep re-ascend, covers all the bases and revels in his song-filled autobiography. His signature "A Few Miles From Memphis" and "Rakin' and Scrapin,'" two full fledged, hot blooded boogies, bookend The Iron Man: Live at Smoke and the music in between never lets you down. John Coltrane gets a special nod with a sonorous, rolling read of "Dear Lord" and a robust, crowd pleasing "Mr. PC." Add to that, Alexander's gifted, often biting Coltrane-inspired runs and Webber's swing-blues bass circa Jimmy Garrison and yes, as he often, if not always, is, Coltrane's in the room taking it all in. "Nightlife in Tokyo," another Mabern claim to fame, effortlessly sways to and fro from a deceptive Oriental tinge to a grand American boogie/swing. Farnsworth keeps a tight rein on things here while Mabern and Webber carry the day. Alexander gets his licks in too and shines on the quieter "You Are Too Beautiful" and "She's Out of My Life." No one goes home disappointed and The Iron Man: Live at Smoke proofs it. --Mike Jurkovic, All About Jazz