Top Picks
Hank Mobley-Lee Morgan Quintet: Peckin' Time, Blue Note. Hank Mobley, tenor sax; Wynton Kelly, piano; Paul Chambers, bass; Charlie Persip, drums. Of the early Lee Morgan Blue Notes, this is one not to miss.
Dizzy Gillespie Big Band Soloists: Dizzy Atmosphere, OJC/Specialty. Billy Mitchell, tenor sax; Billy Root, bari sax; Al Grey, trombone; Wynton Kelly, piano; Paul West, bass; Charlie Persip, drums. This is a very strange recording. There is only 1 extended blowing number and 7 short arranged selections with little room to solo. The Top Pick rating is for the blowing number "Dishwater," which is worth the price of the CD alone. Lee Morgan is technically and conceptually right out of this universe. Billy Root on bari is ferocious and you should hear him on tenor!
Curtis Fuller Sextet: The Curtis Fuller Jazztette With Benny Golson, Savoy. Curtis Fuller, trombone; Benny Golson, tenor sax; Wynton Kelly, piano; Paul Chambers, bass; Charlie Persip, drums. The selection order listing is screwed up. "Judy's Dilemma" and "Wheatleigh Hall" are switched. Morgan is at the top of his game and Benny Golson plays his butt off.
Wynton Kelly Quintet: Kelly Great, Vee-Jay. Wynton Kelly, piano; Wayne Shorter, tenor sax; Paul Chambers, bass; Philly Joe Jones, drums. This is nasty, hot, stomping, in-your-face, uninhibited creativity. There simply aren't enough superlatives to describe its emotionalism. Man!
Lee Morgan-Wayne Shorter-Frank Strozier Sextet: The Young Lions, Vee-Jay. Wayne Shorter, tenor sax; Frank Strozier, alto sax; Bobby Timmons, piano; Bob Cranshaw, bass; Albert Heath, drums
Benny Golson Quintet: Benny Golson and the Philadelpians, Blue Note. Benny Golson, tenor sax; Ray Bryant, piano; Percy Heath, bass; Philly Joe Jones, drums. An all-Philadelphia band and a great one to boot. Listeners should be aware that there is now a nice second Golson session coupled with this quintet.
John Coltrane Sextet: Blue Train, Blue Note. John Coltrane, tenor sax; Curtis Fuller, trombone; Kenny Drew, piano; Paul Chambers, bass; Philly Joe Jones, drums
Lee Morgan Quintet: The Cooker, Blue Note. Pepper Adams, bari sax; Bobby Timmons, piano; Paul Chambers, bass; Philly Joe Jones, drums. Morgan's "Just One of Those Things" solo might just be the greatest of his entire career. That may strike even established listeners as being incredible, because there are certainly many unbelievable ones.
Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers: The Big Beat, Blue Note. Art Blakey, drums; Wayne Shorter, tenor sax; Bobby Timmons, piano; Jymie Merritt, bass
Wayne Shorter Quintet: Night Dreamer, Blue Note. Wayne Shorter, tenor sax; McCoy Tyner, piano; Reggie Workman, bass; Elvin Jones, drums
Joe Henderson Septet: Mode for Joe, Blue Note. Joe Henderson, tenor sax; Curtis Fuller, trombone; Bobby Hutcherson, vibes; Cedar Walton, piano; Ron Carter, bass; Joe Chambers, drums
Jack Wilson Sextet: Easterly Winds, Blue Note. Jack Wilson, piano; Jackie McLean, alto sax; Garnett Brown, trombone; Bob Cranshaw, bass; Billy Higgins, drums
Lee Morgan Sextet: Charisma, Blue Note. Hank Mobley, tenor sax; Jackie McLean, alto sax; Cedar Walton, piano; Paul Chambers, bass; Billy Higgins, drums
Lee Morgan Sextet: The Sixth Sense, Blue Note. Frank Mitchell, tenor sax; Jackie McLean, alto sax; Cedar Walton, piano; Victor Sproles, bass; Billy Higgins, drums
Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers: Roots and Herbs, Blue Note. Art Blakey, drums; Wayne Shorter, tenor sax; Bobby Timmons or Walter Davis, Jr., piano; Jymie Merritt, bass
Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers: Soulfinger, Limelight-Mercury-Verve. Art Blakey, drums; Lucky Thompson, tenor or soprano sax; Gary Bartz, alto sax; John Hicks, piano; Victor Sproles, bass
Lee Morgan Quintet: Live at the Lighthouse '70, Fresh Sound (2-CD set). Bennie Maupin, tenor sax; Harold Mabern, piano; Jymie Merritt, bass; Mickey Roker, drums
Superior
Hank Mobley Sextet: Hank Mobley Sextet, Blue Note. Hank Mobley, tenor sax; Donald Byrd, trumpet; Horace Silver, piano; Paul Chambers, bass; Charlie Persip, drums. This all-star blowing session is one of the finest early Blue Notes and it is difficult to understand why it isn't recognized as such and more widely available as a CD.
Hank Mobley Quintets: The Message of Hank Mobley, #2, Savoy. Hank Mobley, tenor sax; Hank Jones, piano; Doug Watkins, bass; Art Taylor, drums. There are Mobley quintet tracks here not including Morgan. If the "Hank's Shout," "Bet!" and "Nostalgia" tracks from Introducing Lee Morgan, also on Savoy, had been coupled with the tracks here featuring the same personnel, this would easily be a Top Pick.
Curtis Fuller Sextet: Sliding Easy, United Artists (LP only?). Curtis Fuller, trombone; Hank mobley, tenor sax; Tommy Flanagan, piano; Paul Chambers, bass; Elvin Jones, drums
Wayne Shorter Quintet: Introducing Wayne Shorter, Vee-Jay. Wayne Shorter, tenor sax; Wynton Kelly, piano; Paul Chambers, bass; Jimmy Cobb, drums. A surprisingly low-key but effectively conceived Shorter date.
Lee Morgan Quintet: Here's Lee Morgan, Vee-Jay. Clifford Jordan, tenor sax; Wynton Kelly, piano; Paul Chambers, bass; Art Blakey, drums
Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers: Moanin', Blue Note. Art Blakey, drums; Benny Golson, tenor sax; Bobby Timmons, piano; Jymie Merritt, bass
Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers: Witch Doctor, Blue Note. Art Blakey, drums; Wayne Shorter, tenor sax; Bobby Timmons, piano; Jymie Merritt, bass
Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers: Africaine, Blue Note. Art Blakey, drums; Wayne Shorter, tenor sax; Walter Davis Jr., piano; Jymie Merritt, bass
McCoy Tyner Nonet: Tender Moments, Blue Note. McCoy Tyner, piano; Bennie Maupin, tenor sax; James Spaulding, alto sax, flute; Julian Priester, trombone; Bob Northern, French horn; Howard Johnson, tuba; Herbie Lewis, bass; Joe Chambers, drums
Andrew Hill Quintet: Grass Roots, Blue Note. Andrew Hill, piano; Booker Ervin, tenor sax; Ron Carter, bass; Freddie Waits, drums
Hank Mobley Quintet: No Room for Squares, Blue Note. Hank Mobley, tenor sax; Andrew Hill, piano; John Ore, bass; Philly Joe Jones, drums. This is a tight little band with exploratory pianist Hill fitting in to straight-ahead grooves just beautifully. He should have been on many more such sessions and his reputation surely would have been better.
Tina Brooks Quintet: Minor Move, Blue Note. Tina Brooks, tenor sax; Sonny Clark, piano; Doug Watkins, bass; Art Blakey, drums
Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers: Alamode, Impulse. Art Blakey, drums; Wayne Shorter, tenor sax; Curtis Fuller, trombone; Bobby Timmons, piano; Jymie Merritt, bass
Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers: S'Make It, Limelight/Mercury/Verve. Art blakey, drums; John Gilmore, tenor sax; Curtis Fuller, trombone; John Hicks, piano; Victor Sproles, bass
Buddy DeFranco Sextet: Blues Bag, Vee-Jay. Buddy DeFranco, clarinet, bass clarinet; Curtis Fuller, trombone; Victor Feldman, piano; Victor Sproles, bass; Art Blakey, drums
Jackie McLean Sextet: Jacknife, Blue Note. Jackie McLean, alto sax; Charles Tolliver, trumpet; Larry Willis, piano; Larry Ridley, bass; Jack DeJohnette, drums
Lee Morgan Quintet: Infinity, Blue Note. Jackie McLean, alto sax; Larry Willis, piano; Reggie Workman, bass; Billy Higgins, drums
Jackie McLean Quintet: Consequence, Blue Note. Jackie McLean, alto sax; Harold Mabern, piano; Herbie Lewis, bass; Billy Higgins, drums
Lee Morgan Sextet: The Procrastinator, Blue Note. Wayne Shorter, tenor sax; Bobby Hutcherson, vibes; Herbie Hancock, piano; Ron Carter, bass; Billy Higgins, drums
Lee Morgan-Clifford Jordan Quintet: Live in Baltimore 1968, Fresh Sound. Clifford Jordan, tenor sax; John Hicks, piano; Reggie Workman, bass; Ed Blackwell, drums
Jimmy Smith Jam Session Group: Confirmation, Blue Note. Jimmy Smith, organ; Tina Brooks or George Coleman, alto sax; Lou Donaldson, alto sax; Curtis Fuller, trombone; Kenny Burrell or Eddie McFadden, guitar; Art Blakey, drums
Excellent
Lee Morgan Quintet: Lee Morgan Indeed!, Blue Note. Clarence Sharpe, alto sax; Horace Silver, piano; Wilbur Ware, bass; Philly Joe Jones, drums. This Morgan date should be a Top Pick, but the presence of Sharpe and the unintended subordination of the solos to the arrangements prevents it from being so.
Lee Morgan Sextet: Lee Morgan, Vol. 2, Blue Note. Hank Mobley, tenor sax; Kenny Rodgers, alto sax; Horace Silver, piano; Paul Chambers, bass; Charlie Persip, drums. Kenny Rodgers, another of Morgan's Philly pals, is in the front line and the Benny Golson-Owen Marshall charts dominate the proceedings. This date would have been much better as a freewheeling session like the Hank Mobley-Lee Morgan Peckin' Time.
Lee Morgan Sextet: Lee Morgan, Vol. 3, Blue Note. Benny Golson, tenor sax; Gigi Gryce, alto sax; Wynton Kelly, piano; Paul Chambers, bass; Charlie Persip, drums. Morgan performs at a much higher technical level and with a more daring conceptual imagination than he would in later decades, but Golson's charts still dominate the proceedings. What remains disappointing about almost half of these early Morgan Blue Note releases is that, for some unknown reason, he appears to be inhibited from showcasing himself appropriately.
Johnny Griffin Septet: A Blowing Session, Blue Note. Johnny Griffin, John Coltrane, Hank Mobley, tenor sax; Wynton Kelly, piano; Paul Chambers, bass; Art Blakey, drums
Lee Morgan Quintet: Introducing Lee Morgan, Savoy. Hank Mobley, tenor sax; Hank Jones, piano; Doug Watkins, bass; Art Taylor, drums. Too much ballad medley.
Lee Morgan Quartet: Candy, Blue Note. Sonny Clark, piano; Doug Watkins, bass; Art Taylor, drums. A set of standard oldies/love ballads does little for Morgan's career development at this point (1958). "C.T.A." is the only composition of real interest here.
Lee Morgan Quintet: Expoobident, Vee-Jay. Clifford Jordan, tenor sax; Eddie Higgins, piano; Art Davis, bass; Art Blakey, drums
Jimmy Smith Jam Session Groups: House Party, Blue Note. Jimmy Smith, organ; Tina Brooks, tenor sax; Lou Donaldson or George Coleman, alto sax; Curtis Fuller, trombone; Kenny Burrell or Eddie McFadden, guitar; Art Blakey or Donald Bailey, drums
Jimmy Smith Jam Session Groups: The Sermon, Blue Note. Jimmy Smith, organ; Tina Brooks, tenor sax; Lou Donaldson or George Coleman, alto sax; Kenny Burrell or Eddie McFadden, guitar; Art Blakey or Donald Bailey, drums
Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers: At the Jazz Corner of the World, Blue Note (2-CD set). Art Blakey, drums; Hank Mobley, tenor sax; Bobby Timmons, piano; Jymie Merritt, bass
Lee Morgan Quintet: Lee-Way, Blue Note. Jackie McLean, alto sax; Bobby Timmons, piano; Paul Chambers, bass; Art Blakey, drums
Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers: Like Someone in Love, Blue Note. Art Blakey, drums; Wayne Shorter, tenor sax; Bobby Timmons, piano; Jymie Merritt, bass
Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers: A Night in Tunisia, Blue Note. Art Blakey, drums; Wayne Shorter, tenor sax; Bobby Timmons, piano; Jymie Merritt, bass
Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers: Meet You at the Jazz Corner of the World, Blue Note (2-CD set). Art Blakey, drums; Wayne Shorter, tenor sax; Bobby Timmons, piano; Jymie Merritt, bass
Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers With Guests: Paris Jam Session, Verve. Art Blakey, drums; Wayne Shorter, tenor sax or Barney Wilen, alto sax; Bud Powell or Walter Davis Jr., piano; Jymie Merritt, bass
Grachan Moncur III Sextet: Evolution, Blue Note. Grachan Moncur III, trombone; Jackie McLean, alto sax; Bobby Hutcherson, vibes; Bob Cranshaw, bass; Tony Williams, drums
Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers: Freedom Rider, Blue Note. Art Blakey, drums; Wayne Shorter, tenor sax; Bobby Timmons, piano; Jymie Merritt, bass
Lee Morgan Quintet: The Sidewinder, Blue Note. Joe Henderson, tenor sax; Barry Harris, piano; Bob Cranshaw, bass; Billy Higgins, drums
Lee Morgan Sextet: Search for the New Land, Blue Note. Wayne Shorter, tenor sax; Grant Green, guitar; Herbie Hancock, piano; Reggie Workman, bass; Billy Higgins, drums
Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers: Indestructable, Blue Note. Art Blakey, drums; Wayne Shorter, tenor sax; Curtis Fuller, trombone; Cedar Walton, piano; Reggie Workman, bass
Lee Morgan Quintet: The Rumproller, Blue Note. Joe Henderson, tenor sax; Ronnie Mathews, piano; Victor Sproles, bass; Billy Higgins, drums
Hank Mobley Quintet: Dippin', Blue Note. Hank Mobley, tenor sax; Harold Mabern, piano; Larry Ridley, bass; Billy Higgins, drums
Lee Morgan Quintet: The Gigolo, Blue Note. Wayne Shorter, tenor sax; Harold Mabern, piano; Bob Cranshaw, bass; Billy Higgins, drums
Lee Morgan Sextet: Cornbread, Blue Note. Hank Mobley, tenor sax; Jackie McLean, alto sax; Herbie Hancock, piano; Larry Ridley, bass; Billy Higgins, drums
Hank Mobley Sextet: A Caddy for Daddy, Blue Note. Hank Mobley, tenor sax; Curtis Fuller, trombone; McCoy Tyner, piano; Bob Cranshaw, bass; Billy Higgins, drums
Lee Morgan Quintet-Tentet: Delightfulee, Blue Note. Quintet: Joe Henderson, tenor sax; McCoy Tyner, piano; Bob Cranshaw, bass; Billy Higgins, drums. Tentet: Wayne Shorter, tenor sax; Phil Woods, alto sax; Philly Joe Jones, drums
Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers: Like Someone in Love, Blue Note. Art Blakey, drums; Wayne Shorter, tenor sax; Bobby Timmons, piano; Jymie Merritt, bass
Lee Morgan Quintet: Caramba, Blue Note. Bennie Maupin, tenor sax; Cedar Walton, piano; Reggie Workman, bass; Billy Higgins, drums
Lee Morgan Septet: Lee Morgan, Blue Note. Billy Harper, tenor sax, alto flute; Bobbi Humphrey, flute; Grachan Moncur III, trombone; Harold Mabern, piano, electric piano; Reggie Workman or Jymie Merritt, bass; Freddie Waits, drums, recorder
Lee Morgan Quintet: Live at the Lighthouse, Blue Note (3-CD set). Bennie Maupin, tenor sax, flute, bass clarinet; Harold Mabern, piano; Jymie Merritt, ampeg bass; Mickey Roker, drums
Lee Morgan Sextet: Tom Cat, Blue Note. Jackie McLean, alto sax; Curtis Fuller, trombone; McCoy Tyner, piano; Bob Cranshaw, bass; Art Blakey, drums
Lee Morgan Quintet: The Rajah, Blue Note. Hank Mobley, tenor sax; Cedar Walton, piano; Paul Chambers, bass; Billy Higgins, drums
Lee Morgan Quintet: Sonic Boom, Blue Note. David Newman, tenor sax; Cedar Walton, piano; Ron Carter, bass; Billy Higgins, drums
Lee Morgan Sextet: Taru, Blue Note. Bennie Maupin, tenor sax; John Hicks, piano; George Benson, guitar; Reggie Workman, bass; Billy Higgins, drums