Harold Mabern

When record labels like Prestige release two albums on one CD, it's a great bargain for music fans. A Few Miles from Memphis combines the album of the same name and Rakin' and Scrapin', both recorded by pianist Harold Mabern in 1968. On the first set he's joined by tenors George Coleman and Buddy Terry, bassist Bill Lee, and drummer Walter Perkins for a bluesy, rhythm-filled set featuring familiar fare like "A Treat for Bea" and fun originals like "Walkin' Back." There's also the odd inclusion of "There's a Kind of Hush," a pop song that comes out sounding like an old standard here. The second set includes a similar setup but inserts trumpeter Blue Mitchell into the lineup and brings drummer Hugh Walker on board. There's a nice take on "Rakin' and Scrapin'" with some great solo work by Mitchell and Coleman, and a solid version of "I Heard It Through the Grapevine." Mabern's piano work is excellent on both albums, whether building the rhythmic base that keeps these pieces in motion or offering energetic solos. Despite the small changes between sets, these two albums easily flow into one another and offer a nice, 75-minute portrait of Mabern in 1968. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford Jr., All Music Guide