"Dig Dis" is an original composition by tenor saxophonist Hank Mobley, featured on his landmark 1960 Blue Note album Soul Station. The track exemplifies Mobley’s melodic approach to hard bop and is widely regarded as a showcase of his compositional and improvisational strengths1234.
Recording and Personnel
- Album: Soul Station (recorded February 7, 1960, at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ)
- Personnel:
Musical Structure and Style
- Form: "Dig Dis" is a blues that alternates between minor and major, providing a distinctive flavor within the hard bop idiom3.
- Key: The head is in B-flat minor, but the solos shift to B-flat major, creating a dynamic interplay between moods3.
- Arrangement: The tune features a medium swing tempo, with the head played as a minor blues. After the initial statement, the band moves into two choruses of stop-time B-flat major blues, then continues with straight-ahead soloing in B-flat major3.
- Improvisation: Mobley’s solo is a masterclass in melodic improvisation, marked by clear, lyrical lines and subtle rhythmic tension. Wynton Kelly follows with a swinging piano solo that maintains the tune’s bluesy spirit34.
Critical Reception and Legacy
- Soul Station is often cited as Mobley’s masterpiece, with "Dig Dis" standing out as a prime example of his blues-based, melodic hard bop style24.
- Jazz educators and musicians praise the track for its clear structure and Mobley’s inventive phrasing, making it a favorite for study and performance4.
Key Facts Table
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Composer | Hank Mobley |
| Album | Soul Station (1960, Blue Note) |
| Personnel | Mobley (ts), Kelly (p), Chambers (b), Blakey (d) |
| Structure | Minor blues head, stop-time major blues, straight-ahead solos |
| Notable Features | Alternates minor/major, melodic improvisation, medium swing |
| Legacy | Hard bop classic, jazz standard for study and performance |
Summary
"Dig Dis" is a quintessential Mobley composition—bluesy, swinging, and melodically rich. Its clever alternation between minor and major blues forms, combined with top-tier performances from Mobley, Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers, and Art Blakey, make it a standout track on Soul Station and a touchstone for hard bop enthusiasts1234.
