Search - Lee Morgan :: Lee Morgan V.3

Unknown treasure. Maybe Morgan's greatest session !

JEAN-MARIE JUIF | BESANCON France | 09/01/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"THis almost unknown session,which never was released neither in the USA or in Europe,may just be Lee Morgan's greatest record.And it's incredible to think that Lee recorded these tunes when he was only...19 years old! Born 1938,Lee quickly became the new star of trumpet,and he didn't live much longer than the two other stars of hard bop trumpet,Clifford Brown (died 25 years old) and Booker Little (22 y.o).He was murdered by a girlfriend,who shot him while he was playing in a NYC club,1972;he was 34.
Lee recorded extensively for Blue Note Records,under his own name,and with other Blue Note stars,mainly with Art Blakey.This truly magnificent session took place on March 24,1957.Besides Lee are Gigi Gryce on alto sax,Benny Golson on tenor,Wynton Kelly on piano,Paul Chambers on bass and Charlie Persip on drums.What a great band!!!The five tunes were written and arranged by Benny Golson (born 1929).Benny is really a very important tenor sax player,maybe simply a genius on this instrument.Be he also is one of the most talented writers in jazz.Mostly influenced by the Genius,Tadd Dameron,he wrote several immortal pieces like "I remember Clifford","along came Betty","out of the past","blues march","whisper not" or "stablemates",just to name a few.
His playing has strong influences of Hawkins and Webster.This record offers five of his compositions.Of course,there is the well known "I remember Clifford",written after Brownie's tragic death in a car crash,in which Bud Powell's brother,pianist Richie Powell,also died.A masterpiece.But there are also four unknown tunes by Benny: the oriental "Hasaan's dream",the story of "an imaginary arabian boy,who,after seeing the many wonderful things in a sultan's palace,goes back to his dwelling and dreams of these things",as Nat Hentoff's liner notes explain; the beautiful "Domingo", a typical hard bop theme,which reminds me so much of the atmosphere of the Jazz Messengers' music.Benny has a superlative solo here,followed by a great Morgan."Mesabi chant" is another beautiful melody.And "tip toeing" is a blues,a simple one,with some Kansas City influences.In fact,it just sounds like a Count Basie's blues.
I really don't know why this record has been forgotten;the japanese didn't,and reissued it several times,on LP and CD (I bought my CD issue some six or seven years ago).So,if you're in love with Lee Morgan's or Benny Golson's music,don't wait for a cheaper issue;this session is a gem in Lee's and Benny's careers,and also a great opportunity to listen to the rare Gigi Gryce."