Behind The Session: “Gayle’s Groove”

In 1963, seven years before this recording, Mickey moved to NYC. One of his first big “breaks” was playing with Hank Mobley at the famous Hotel Theresa in Harlem. His first recordings were with pianist Bobby Timmons (1965 and 1966) and then with trumpeter Lee Morgan (1968). On the session featured here, Mickey recorded with Hank Mobley, and also for the first time with Woody Shaw and Cedar Walton, two artists he would later rejoin as members of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. With the Messengers, Mickey recorded two Prestige albums in 1973 which included two Mickey Bass arrangements (A Chant For Bu and One For Trane). Both combo arrangements are available from Second Floor Music through Hal Leonard and other music stores. Full details are on secondfloormusic.com. Gayle’s Groove was Mickey’s first recorded composition.