The Philadelphia-born trumpeter and superb bop stylist Lee Morgan apprenticed with Dizzy Gillespie and Art Blakey before emerging as a leader in his own right in the early '60s for Blue Note Records. Although Morgan owed a stylistic debt to both Gillespie and Clifford Brown, he quickly developed a voice of his own that combined half-valve effects, Latin inflections, and full, fluid melodies.
While many of Morgan's later sessions for Blue Note would find him paired with saxophonist Hank Mobley, The Sidewinder features the then up-and-coming tenor player Joe Henderson, along with Detroit pianist Barry Harris, bassist Bob Cranshaw, and drummer Billy Higgins. Along with the title track, an unconventional 24-bar blues, the album's compositional standout is "Totem Pole," a minor Latin groove featuring an outstanding solo by Henderson. This is the kind of relaxed blowing date, invigorated by thoughtful performances, that forms the backbone of the Blue Note catalog. --Fred Goodman
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 5.0 / 5.0
NOW THAT'S MORE LIKE IT:
CLASSIC BLUE NOTE ALBUM FROM LEE MORGAN IN THE MID 1960'S. EARLIER I HAD REVIEWED ANOTHER LEE MORGAN FROM THE 1960'S "DELIGHTFULEE MORGAN", AND DID NOT GIVE IT A GREAT REVIEW. THIS ALBUM IS MUCH, MUCH BETTER, IT IS EVERYTHING THAT ALBUM IS NOT. IF YOU WANT TO HEAR LEE MORGAN RIGHT AT THE TOP OF HIS GAME, THEN BUY THIS ALBUM, YOU WILL LOVE IT. GREAT JAZZ, WHAT YOU WOULD EXPECT FROM A BLUE NOTE RECORD FROM THE 60'S. BTW, JOE HENDERSON IS AWESOME ON THIS RECORDING AS WELL, ESPECIALLY ON THE FIRST TRACK (YOU... more info
A pearl to dive for:
This album is a must for anyone who likes jazz and good music in general. Lee Morgan gives the personality of his trumpet to the tracks and the sound of the album is so exciting. The track of the title is impressive, but the pearl of the album is Totem Pole. If you want to hit the mark buying a jazz album, this is your purchase. It won't dissapoint you, rather on the contrary, you'll think you should've never missed this.
A timeless classic:
The Sidewinder is a catchy funk tune which captured popularity and recognition for Morgan. Looking beyond the title track, Totem Pole is treasure for rhythmic interaction between all of the players. Gary's Notebook has a superb Joe Henderson solo which I have found to be worthwhile to transcribe. Intriguing enough for the conoisseur, yet assecible enough for anybody, this is an excellent addition to any library
