Lee Morgan - Four Classic Albums: Second Set (2019)

UK Import

2019 compilation of four albums by Lee Morgan from the late 1950s. Another quality compilation from the British Avid label, who take full advantage of the length of copyright laws in Europe (50 years) and, might I add, make classic jazz releases quite affordable: I paid $11.98, new, for this 2 disc set. Albums have been remastered and the original liner notes are included. Morgan was such a fantastic trumpet player. The whole set is highly enjoyable.

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CANDY (1958)
6 tracks, 37 minutes

Previously appeared on The CD Project.

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CITY LIGHTS (1958)
5 tracks, 38 minutes

Original liner notes written by Leonard Feather.

Morgan - trumpet
George Coleman - tenor & alto saxophones
Curtis Fuller - trombone
Ray Bryant - piano
Paul Chambers - bass
Art Taylor - drums

Reviews/ratings:

• DownBeat (★★★★): "a lot of rewarding listening here"
• The Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz (1999): ★★★★

Tracks: Five tracks, none written by members of the band. Three of the tunes were written by Benny Golson, plus one each from Johnny Green and Gigi Grice. Fuller really brings the goods throughout and really pushes Morgan - it's a joy to hear the playful battles here. Things get a little sloppy in Just By Myself. My top picks are the title cut and You're Mine You.

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LEE MORGAN - INDEED! (1957)
6 tracks, 41 minutes

Morgan's debut album as a leader, but plays like a seasoned pro. These four albums were recorded when Morgan was 18 & 19 years old and you'd never know it - such a mature sound.

Original liner notes written by Leonard Feather.

Morgan - trumpet
Clarence Sharpe - alto saxophone
Horace Silver - piano
Wilbur Ware - bass
"Philly" Joe Jones - drums

Rating:

• The Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz (1999): ★★★

Tracks: 6 tracks: 1 from pianist Silver, 1 from Donald Byrd, and 2 each from Owen Marshall (a name previously unknown to me) and the aforementioned Benny Golson. The highlights of this debut are the two middle tracks, The Lady and Little T.

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THE COOKER (1958)
5 tracks, 39 minutes

Morgan's fifth release for Blue Note and the first to feature some of his own compositions.

Original liner notes written by Robert Levin.

Morgan - trumpet
Pepper Adams - alto saxophone
Bobby Timmons - piano
Paul Chambers - bass
"Philly" Joe Jones - drums

Ratings:

• The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Album Guide (1999): ★★★★
• The Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz (1999): ★★★★

Tracks: In addition to two of Morgan's compositions - titled Heavy Dipper and New-Ma - there are versions of Lover Man, Cole Porter's Just One Of Those Things, and Dizzy Gillespie's A Night In Tunisia, the latter two in which Morgan burns through the tunes in dazzling display of technique. The Cooker, indeed.

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Previously revisited for the blog:
Candy (1958)