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Lee Morgan: Here's Lee Morgan

by C. Andrew Hovan
While Craft Recordings' new OJC reissue series has largely drawn from its treasure trove of Prestige and Riverside titles, the label recently expanded its scope to include two standout jazz albums from Chicago's historic Vee-Jay Records. Founded in 1953 by husband-and-wife team James Bracken and Vivian Carter, Vee-Jay was not only one of the earliest Black-owned and woman-owned labels but also a remarkably eclectic imprint. Known for its blues releases--and even some early Beatles records--Vee-Jay also documented top-tier ...
Continue ReadingBack In The Groove: Material Matters

by Tarik Townsend
An aspect of jazz that is often overlooked is the material. That is, the very tunes that the musicians are performing. Arguably more important than the key or the tempo, the song itself dictates where the musician's inspiration will go, and even that isn't always a sure thing. They're a launching pad and an indicator of an artist's imagination. The material can also lead the players into some fascinating places normally not tread by anyone else--including themselves. Some recent records ...
Continue ReadingTop Ten Lee Morgan Recordings

by Jason Innocent
These albums represent a diverse range of Lee Morgan's musical output and showcase his virtuosity, innovation, and contribution to jazz trumpet. The Sidewinder Blue Note Records 1963 Morgan's most famous and commercially successful release is this album. It features the catchy title track, which became a major hit and is now considered a jazz standard. Cornbread Blue Note Records 1965 This album showcases Morgan's exceptional ...
Continue ReadingThe Blue Note Label

by Jerome Wilson
This show, from July 2021, covers two hours worth of the extensive legacy of the Blue Note record label, examining some of the label's rich past as well as its present. The program goes all the way from Lee Morgan and Bud Powell to Joel Ross and Ambrose Akinmusire. Playlist Henry Threadgill Sextett I Can't Wait Till I Get Home" from The Complete Novus & Columbia Recordings of Henry Threadgill & Air (Mosaic) 00:00 Thelonious Monk In Walked ...
Continue ReadingDefinitive Article Lee

by Patrick Burnette
Many moons ago on Episode 95 we did an podcast devoted to Freddie Hubbard, so in honor of the new Complete at the Lighthouse release, we thought it was time to do one for Lee Morgan But not to discuss Live at the Lighthouse because that's the way we roll. (Look me up on Facebook if you have questions about that release). We survey the trumpet master's brutally truncated career and ponder what might have been while enjoying one of ...
Continue ReadingHard Bop: Ten Essential Live Albums

by Chris May
"Fire! That's what people want. Music is supposed to wash away the dust of everyday life. You're supposed to make them turn around, pat their feet. That's what jazz is about. Play with fire. Play from the heart, not from your brain. You got to know how to make the two meet." So said drummer and hard bop pioneer Art Blakey in an interview with David Rosenthal in the 1980s. To which his partner in funk, the ...
Continue ReadingJoe Henderson: The Complete Joe Henderson Blue Note Studio Sessions

by Scott Gudell
If an artist stamps his jazz passport with any one of these labels--Blue Note, Verve, Milestone--it's pretty much a guarantee that you've arrived in style. Tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson has traveled with all three and more. The 2021 reissue from the prestigious Mosaic Records focuses on Henderson's 1960s tenure with Blue Note offers a new opportunity to experience an abundance of rich and creative jazz from the decade. Big band and bop were duking it out in the ...
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