Craft Recordings is wrapping up 2025 the way every jazz label should—by letting Hank Mobley take the lead. The latest drop in the Original Jazz Classics series puts Jazz Message #2 front and center, a Savoy gem that’s finally getting the audiophile-grade treatment it deserves. Mobley’s reissue leads a stacked lineup that includes Wes Montgomery’s Boss Guitar, Art Pepper’s Surf Ride, Sonny Rollins’ Plus 4, Yusef Lateef’s Jazz Mood, and two Red Garland Quartet sessions—Soul Junction and After Hours—loaded with heavy hitters like Thad Jones, Frank Wess, Kenny Burrell, and Mal Waldron.
It’s been a strong year for the OJC series, and we’ve covered plenty of it—Lee Morgan, Benny Golson, Eric Dolphy, and Ken McIntyre have all had their turns on the table. What’s kept Craft’s momentum going isn’t just the quality of the mastering or pressing, but their commitment to keeping these records within reach. Vinyl isn’t exactly a budget-friendly hobby in 2025, and too many reissues lean on nostalgia instead of substance. Craft, to their credit, keeps delivering releases that actually feel like upgrades; musically, sonically, and physically—without sending you into overdraft.
Hank Mobley – Jazz Message #2
Hank Mobley’s Jazz Message #2 might not have the name recognition of Workout, No Room for Squares, Dippin’, or the immortal Soul Station, but it’s every bit as sharp where it counts. Cut from two sessions, it’s a lean, 32-minute showcase of Mobley’s under-appreciated brilliance. The lineup’s built like a big league contender from north of the border; Donald Byrd and a teenage Lee Morgan trading trumpet duties, Barry Harris and Hank Jones splitting piano work, Doug Watkins on bass, and Kenny Clarke and Art Taylor locking down the rhythm section with precision. A few all-stars surrounded by a rock-solid supporting cast.
Morgan might have still been tightening the screws at this stage, but the raw talent is unmistakable—poised, inventive, and already dangerous. Byrd’s cuts, meanwhile, are sharper and more defined; he plays like a man fully in control. Mobley threads it all together, still carrying traces of Lester Young and Illinois Jacquet in his phrasing, yet clearly moving toward the harder, more modern sound that would define his Blue Note years.
Three originals, two blues, zero wasted time. The highlight? “Space Flight,” a brisk, no-nonsense bop burner that captures everyone at full tilt. Sure, the runtime’s short—Savoy wasn’t exactly known for stretching tape—but every minute earns its space. This is Mobley in transition, sharpening his craft before Soul Station made him immortal.
Sonically, this 32-minute session is clean and balanced, if a bit reserved. The mix gives Art Taylor and Kenny Clarke’s drums a nice sense of space and snap, with percussion that feels alive without overpowering. Lee Morgan and Donald Byrd are placed slightly forward, giving the horns a clear edge in presence. Hank Jones and Barry Harris, on the other hand, sound a little soft in the mix—their piano work is there, just not as focused or defined as the rest. Typical Savoy sound: straightforward, a little dry, but honest.
The pressing is typical Craft/OJC—clean, quiet, and detailed. The red Savoy label looks great and gives it that vintage vibe, even if it’s not an original. It’s not a long session, but the lineup alone makes it an easy one to justify spinning—and keeping.
Where to buy: $41.99 at Amazon | Craft Recordings
Related Reading:
- Benny Golson’s “Gone With Golson” Vinyl Reissue Review: Craft Recordings Restores 1960 Prestige/New Jazz Rarity
- Wheelin’ And Dealin’ 180-Gram Vinyl Review: Craft Recordings’ OJC Reissue Showcases Waldron And Wess
- Review: Here’s Lee Morgan – Craft Recordings’ OJC Reissue Revives A Hard Bop Rarity
- Review: Looking Ahead – Ken McIntyre & Eric Dolphy’s Boundary-Pushing OJC/Craft Recordings Reissue On 180g Vinyl
