Saxophonist Eric Alexander wrote the tune "Iron Man"as a salute to Harold Mabern. It's one of 10 tracks on that Memphis-born pianist's new recording, To Love And Be Loved.
The album features Mabern with Alexander, trumpeter Freddie Hendrix, bassist Nat Reeves and percussionist Cyro Baptista. It also reunites the pianist with legendary drummer Jimmy Cobb; these two giants played together briefly in Miles Davis' band in 1963.
Harold loves an evergreen, and he shows it here through his interpretations of Rodgers and Hart, Schwartz and Dietz, Van Heusen and Cahn and Cole Porter. You'll also find nuggets by Lee Morgan, McCoy Tyner, Bobby Timmons, Miles Davis and Gene Ammons — familiar tunes that Mabern takes to new places.
1) To Love And Be Loved
2) If There Is Someone Lovelier Than You
3) The Gigolo
4) Inner Glimpse
5) My Funny Valentine
6) The Iron Man
7) So What
8) I Get A Kick Out Of You
9) Dat Dere (solo piano)
10) Hittin' The Jug
