What makes Mabern's Grooveyard by Harold Mabern notable?

Mabern's Grooveyard is significant for its critical acclaim within the jazz community, receiving favorable reviews from notable publications like JazzTimes. The album showcases not only Mabern's virtuosity but also contributed to the resurgence of interest in post-bop jazz during this era. Released in 1998, Mabern's Grooveyard came during Harold Mabern's late-career renaissance, following a long history as a sideman and bandleader. This album marked one of his prominent recordings after re-establishing himself in the jazz scene during the 1990s, highlighting his distinctive style and mastery of the piano.

How many songs are on Mabern's Grooveyard?

Mabern's Grooveyard has 9 tracks, running approximately 55 minutes.

Mabern's Grooveyard

Harold Mabern · 1998

55 min · 9 tracks · jazz

Lush harmonies intertwine with vibrant improvisation, showcasing a deep-rooted connection to jazz traditions while exploring modern post-bop landscapes.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Grooveyard — The title track opens the album with a captivating blend of rhythmic complexity and melodic richness, setting the tone for the entire recording.
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A Hundred Years From Today — This track features intricate piano lines paired with heartfelt improvisation, encapsulating the essence of Mabern's emotional depth and technical prowess.
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Minority — Mabern's interpretation of this classic showcases his ability to breathe new life into well-known standards, demonstrating both respect and innovation in his approach.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental

59 /100

Treeline

Higher than 57% of albums we've rated

Mabern's Grooveyard blends traditional jazz elements with modern improvisation, creating a solid yet familiar listening experience.

What we noticed

Improvisation is a key element, with extended solos that explore various themes while maintaining a cohesive sound throughout the record.
The tempo varies significantly across tracks, with some pieces like 'Grooveyard' starting energetically and others like 'After Hours' providing a more relaxed atmosphere.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 6/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 7/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Grooveyard 8:09
2 Lady Bird 6:03
3 Jeanine 6:01
4 A Hundred Years From Today 7:56
5 Minority 5:58
6 After Hours 5:20
7 East of the Sun 5:56
8 Aon 6:11
9 Bubbles, Bangles and Beads 4:18

What to play next

Listen next

Maya with Love

2000

Go back to

For Phineas

1995

Full Harold Mabern discography Artists like Harold Mabern

post-bop

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata