Blue Mitchell’s The Thing To Do captures the trumpeter at his most assured, his warm, swinging tone perfectly aligned with the Blue Note sound. Recorded in 1964, the album moves with ease from crisp hard bop to tender ballads and a bright touch of Calypso rhythm, revealing both finesse and fire. Mitchell is joined by an exceptional quintet: Junior Cook on tenor saxophone, a young Chick Corea on piano, Gene Taylor on bass and Al Foster on drums. Together they strike a balance between tight ensemble interplay and relaxed, expressive soloing. The Thing To Do stands as a defining statement from a trumpeter whose soulful phrasing and effortless groove remain irresistible.