Doin' The Thang!

Doin' The Thang!, the '63 debut album by Ronnie Mathews, may seem like your typical soul-jazz record given the title track and slang used. However, it is actually hard bop and modal post-bop, featuring Mathews' quintet. Charles Davis on bari sax, Eddie Kahn on bass, Albert "Tootie" Heath on drums, and Freddie Hubbard - just 25 - on trumpet. Hubbard's style pays homage to Clifford Brown and Fats Navarro yet still retains its unique stamp. Examples of Mathews' soulful approach include "The Thang" (a blues), "The Orient", and "Ichi-Ban". His version of Duke Ellington's "Prelude to a Kiss" is especially noteworthy. All in all, Doin' the Thang marked the beginning of Mathews' illustrious recording career.