Search - Lee Morgan :: Procrastinator

I can't believe this "limited edition" cd is still available

Lee C. Grady | Madison, WI USA | 03/08/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I agree with the other reviewers here. This 1967 set does not get the credit it deserves in the standard jazz guides. I'm a big Lee Morgan fan, and I think this is one of his best. It ranks with "Search for the New Land" and "Sidewinder." Morgan's playing is right on; his tone is as full and rich as on any of his recordings. The compositions (four by Morgan and two by Wayne Shorter) are excellent. And consider the band: Wayne Shorter, ts; Bobby Hutcherson, vb; Herbie Hancock, p; Ron Carter, b; Billy Higgins, d. This music first appeared as half of a two-record set issued in the late 1970s (the album was also titled "The Procrastinator" and included a session from 1969). The current CD release is part of Blue Note's Connoisseur series, and once its sold out it may not appear again for some time. If you're any kind of Morgan fan, or a fan of 1960s hard bop, get it while you can!!!"

One of the best you've never heard of

K. Yip | foster city, ca | 12/20/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"the rhythm section on this miraculous set of music is simply the best on any morgan album i've heard....Carter, Hancock, and Shorter aided in this recording in the midst of their own Nefertiti sessions with (miles)Davis, if that gives any indication of the kind of mix going on here...Carter's unique voice on the bass is perhaps more hearable on this album than others(his interactions with soloists, especially with Shorter, on 'Stopstart'is quite simply disturbing)
But the quality of the actual recording of Procrastinator allows the same to be said for all...Hutcherson and Hancock are like two sides of a coin while Higgins is as usual infectious...
Morgan seems lofted by this stellar cast to some of his best work...
Worthy of note is the fact that Procrastinator is the last recorded display of a certain chemistry shared between Morgan and Shorter which began with their sharing the front line in Blakey's Jazz Messengers(the first recording of this union is Art Blakey's 'Africaine')....Shorter contributes two originals(Dear Sir and Rio)which not only seem to sincerely enhance the total character of 'Procrastinator' - as if they were written specifically for the project and its parameters - but stand quite tall amongst Shorter's own compositional cannon(any fan of Shorter's extraterrestrial writing abilities should perk up at such a statement)...
yet despite the obvious caliber of individual musicians present, there seems to be something uncanny, a.k.a. VERY special, about the sustained mood and sound of Procrastinator as a total project that is not often encountered...LISTEN to this album(particularly 'Stopstart' at high volume)and lose some sonic virginity!"

One of Morgan's best

Blues Bro | Lakewood, Colorado USA | 07/20/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Well, as good as this session was, Blue Note did not hear a hit, so they decided to let it sit in the valuts 15 years. Then they re-release it in the 90's as a limited edition. The good news is that is still available. The sound is much influenced by Miles great quintet, and Lee sounds a bit restrained. Its similar to "Search for the new Land" but not as good. Still, a very nice album."