Boss Bossa – Hank Mobley

Although the name suggests a certain toughness, Boss Bossa is a light, laid-back bossa. Our audio starts at the tail end of the rhythm section introduction and continues through the top of the melody. The whole rhythm section intro and coda are notated in our lead sheet.

This recording features James Spaulding on flute, which is a great instrumentation choice—if you're looking for a chart to play with a flautist, this should be it! Even without flute, the syncopated rhythms and interestingly shaped melody make Boss Bossa another addition to the wonderful oeuvre of Hank Mobley's work.

"Third Season" was recorded at the legendary Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs.

In 1965, after Billy Higgins' first two recording sessions with Hank (both Hank Mobley sessions: see Pat 'N Chat, Third Time Around, The Turnaround and Straight Ahead) , Billy & Hank played together on a Lee Morgan session where they recorded Lee's lovely bossa Ceora. Hank always loved Lee's composition. Inspired by it, in 1967 he wrote and recorded three lovely bossas of his own, starting with Boss Bossa, then, on different sessions, Bossa For Baby (May 26) and Bossa De Luxe (October 9).

Hank first recorded with James Spaulding on a Freddie Hubbard session in 1965. Spaulding also played flute and alto sax on Hank's March 18, 1966, "A Slice Of The Top" session. You can also check out Don't Cry, Just Sigh from this session.

Hank's Bossa De Luxe, with lyric added by Bebe Herring, became Garden In The Sand and was recorded by vocalist Gloria Cooper in 2004. On jazzleadsheets.com there's an accompaniment-only audio track in the key of G minor.