Lee-Way [Remaster]

Performer: Lee Morgan (Trumpet)
Artist: Jackie McLean; Art Blakey; Bobby Timmons; Paul Chambers
Engineer: Rudy VanGelder
Producer: Alfred Lion
Distributor: EMI Music Distribution

Notes: Personnel: Lee Morgan (trumpet); Jackie McClean (alto saxophone); Bobby Timmons (piano); Paul Chambers (bass); Art Blakey (drums). Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on April 28, 1960. Originally released on Blue Note (84034). Includes liner notes by Nat Hentoff and Bob Blumenthal. In the 1960's hard-bop sweepstakes, one of Freddie Hubbard's true rivals was Lee Morgan. The late Morgan was known for his brassy, searing style, but he could be tender and lyrical as well. Recorded in 1960 (significantly before Morgan's success with THE SIDEWINDER), LEE-WAY is in many ways one of the most quintessential hard bop discs ever recorded. The band is incredible, practically an edition of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers: Blakey on drums, Bobby Timmons's earthy piano, Jackie McLean's acidic, fluid alto saxophone, and Miles Davis's bassist Paul Chambers. This is primo, driving hard bop, with slight overtones of the era's soul-jazz sound.

JazzTimes (2/96, pp.83-84) - "...one of Morgan's greasiest, down and dirty blowing sessions, featuring the trumpeter at his most emotional..." Musician (9/95, p.90) - "...unearthed...gem....Two fine Calvin Massey compositions...prove a fine frame for Morgan's expressive trumpet solos, and bookend two relaxed blowing blues..." Jazziz (10/95, p.36) - "...a forgotten classic....Morgan struts and shouts his way through four lengthy tracks..."

Along with Freddie Hubbard, Lee Morgan was one of the leading trumpeter/composers of the 1960s hard-bop era. His composition "The Sidewinder" is perhaps THE signature piece of the genre, and is practically the textbook definition of the "boogaloo" groove that became popular in the mid-'60s. Influenced by Clifford Brown, Morgan possessed fleet fingers and a robust tone, and his enormously influential approach utilized blues-based harmony, simple melodic motives, and funky, groove-oriented rhythms. The jazz world was robbed of an innovator when Morgan was shot dead by a jealous girlfriend in 1972.

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