Liner Notes

Mobley had expanded his palette the year before on A Slice of the Top , an octet date featuring arrangements by Duke Pearson , but Third Season felt like a return to a looser, small group feel despite the fact that it still featured a 7-piece band. Joining Mobley here are alto saxophonist James Spaulding , trumpeter Lee Morgan , guitarist Sonny Greenwich , pianist Cedar Walton , bassist Walter Booker , and drummer Billy Higgins . The 6-song set includes Morgan’s blues “The Steppin’ Stone,” but otherwise presents a diverse collection of Mobley’s originals including the hard-charging opener “An Aperitif,” laid-back swinger “Don’t Cry, Just Sigh,” breezy “Boss Bossa,” gospel-tinged boogaloo “Give Me That Feelin’,” and the intricate title track.

Recorded in 1967 but not released until 1980 as part of the LT Series, Hank Mobley ’s Third Season was a typically high-caliber late-60s hard bop outing by the tenor saxophonist with a heavy focus on his own original compositions.