Harold Mabern, a superior hard bop pianist, had a rare opportunity to perform a set of unaccompanied solos for this Sackville release. Recorded live from Toronto's Café des Copains and originally broadcast on the radio, Mabern performs six jazz standards (including "Joy Spring,""Pent Up House" and Wayne Shorter's "House of Jade") and a pair of bluesy originals. Although Mabern sounds most comfortable in a trio, he has always been enough of a two-handed player to play solo; he readily acknowledges the influences of Phineas Newborn and Ahmad Jamal. - Scott Yanow
Tracks
01. I've Got the World on a String
02. Blues in F/T-Bone Steak
03. House of Jade
04. Joy Spring
05. Indian Summer
06. Manhattan
07. Dat Dere
08. Pent Up House
09. Thou Swell
10. Mabern's Boogie
HAROLD MABERN solo piano
Recorded April 25, 1984 at Toronto's Café des Copains
Sackville Recordings – 2016