Search - Lee Morgan :: Taru

Almost the one of the best.

John J. Pas | MI, USA | 12/13/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is one of Lee Morgan's later albums in which he finally begins to break out of the mold that The Sidewinder put him in. He once again puts together a very good rhythm section (you can't go wrong with Billy Higgins), and Maupin on the tenor sax is one of the best sidemen on any Morgan album. The tunes, for the most part, are excellent and show Lee beginning to go into newer, more modal directions (at least less commercial). 'Avotcja One' is a modal tune reminiscent of 'So What.' Morgan's solo here is incredibly well-built stemming from a mere one note pop into his more typically fresh ideas. 'Haeschen' is one of his only original ballads, and is an excellent compostion. He solos with great warmth and restraint, as do all the other soloists. What makes this the best track on the album, however, is the excellent 'color' George Benson adds with his guitar. It adds a distinctive, dreamy atmosphere to the track that isn't really heard in the rest of the Morgan discography. 'Get Yo'self Togetha' is up-tempo and sounds like 'Softly as In a Morning Sunrise.' Maupin even quotes it in his solo. It is the most intense track on the album with a powerful Morgan solo. The title track also recalls another well-known tune: 'I Remember Clifford' (listen closely to the Latin section of 'Taru'). Morgan solos here with almost as much poise as on 'Haeschen.' Despite the incredible playing by Maupin (it's a shame he isn't more well-known), and the new inventiveness of Morgan, the album remains four stars due to the remaining tracks. 'Dee Lawd' and 'Durem' are of 'The Sidewinder' lineage, but not nearly as good. They are the trite obligatory 'boogaloo' numbers Lee seemed to have on most of his following albums. They are nothing special. For Morgan albums that don't give in to the commercial side of the record business, get 'The Search for the New Land' or 'The Procrastinator.' They are excellent. So is this album, except for the unfortunate inclusion of the above-mentioned tracks. 'Taru' is still worth owning, especially if you're a Morgan fan."

Worth it

William Jones | Rockville, MD USA | 09/12/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Band includes Billy Higgins and George Benson. Lee Morgan fans should not have a problem paying import prices for this one."