Blue Mitchell – The Thing To Do (Blue Note Classic)

Blue Mitchell's The Thing To Do captures the trumpeter at the start of his Blue Note run with a set that says a lot about where hard bop stood in 1964. Although Mitchell had already recorded a leader date for the label in 1963, that session was shelved until it later appeared as Step Lightly, making this the first Blue Note album actually released under his name and the beginning of an eight-album stretch for the label. The music moves easily from hard bop to balladry and Calypso touches, showing how naturally Mitchell's warm, soulful tone fit the Blue Note sound.

The quintet is a major part of the album's appeal: Junior Cook on tenor saxophone, Gene Taylor on bass, Al Foster on drums, and a 23-year-old Chick Corea on piano, in one of his earliest recorded appearances. Foster was making his recording debut here too, which gives the session extra historical pull. Rather than feeling like a showcase built around one idea, The Thing To Do opens out across several angles of Mitchell's style, from the catchy Calypso of "Fungii Mama" to the ballad "Mona's Mood" and the easy swing of "Step Lightly."

What holds it together is Mitchell's poise: relaxed without ever sounding casual, precise without losing warmth. AllMusic gave the album a full five-star rating, and it's easy to hear why in the balance between tight ensemble playing and open, expressive soloing. For anyone tracing the line from Horace Silver's hard-bop world toward the next generation of Blue Note players, this is a particularly rewarding stop.

Features

• LP, 180g, Stereo, Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition
• All-analog mastering by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes
• Pressed at Optimal
• Single-sleeve packaging

Reviews

• The record is prime Blue Note hard bop, containing inventive tunes, meaningful solos, and an enthusiastic but tight feel. - AllMusic.com