Lee Morgan - Suspended Sentence (1960)
A post from Alive Soul singing Lee Morgan’s praises reminded of my own Morgan-based obsession, which has coaxed me into hunting down every LP he appeared on in the roughly 17 years he was in the recording mix.
This under-the-radar 1990 CD release double-featuring Lee Morgan and Thad Jones is regrettably obscure. The Lee Morgan sides are impeccable, playing in what is essentially the Jazz Messengers-lite: Art Blakey and bassist Jymie Merritt are replaced here by Art Taylor and Jimmy Rowser. However, fellow 1960 Messengers Wayne Shorter and Bobby Timmons spit-shine this hard bop emerald composed by Shorter to a mirror finish.
Jackie McLean - Climax (1965)
Certain solos are so ferocious they literally take your breath away. JMac’s solo on this tune is, in my humble opinion, one of his top five moments on record. You can really hear how much drummer Jack DeJohnette and the rhythm section—made up of Larry Willis and Larry Ridley—really drive him upward, outward and into the stratosphere on this cut. Sensational stuff.
