Lee Morgan

Lee Morgan on vinyl: hard bop with fire

In short: Lee Morgan from Philadelphia was a trumpet star while still a teenager. He recorded for Blue Note from 1956, played in Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers and in 1964 scored one of the label’s biggest successes with “The Sidewinder”. He died in 1972, aged only 33. The Vinyl Room currently has 16 Lee Morgan records.

What makes Lee Morgan special?

Morgan’s trumpet sounds bright, cheeky and full of energy – with blues in the tone and plenty of wit in the phrasing. His early Blue Note records like “Indeed!” and “The Cooker” show the young virtuoso, “The Sidewinder” the groove that made him famous. With “Cornbread” and “Caramba” the music grew broader and more modern, and “Live At The Lighthouse”, recorded in 1970 and released in 1971, shows his band in California.

Some recordings only came out after his death, such as “Tom Cat” and “Sonic Boom”. Some of our records are later Blue Note editions from the seventies.

From our stock

First pressings

Hard bop

→ Blue Note · Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers · Collecting Blue Note · How to spot a first pressing

FAQ

What is Lee Morgan’s best-known album? “The Sidewinder” (Blue Note, 1964).

Did Lee Morgan play in the Jazz Messengers? Yes, in the late fifties and again in the mid-sixties with Art Blakey.

Which Lee Morgan records do you have? Among others “Indeed!”, “The Cooker”, “The Sidewinder”, “Cornbread”, “Caramba” and “Live At The Lighthouse” – 16 records in all.

How can I tell which Blue Note edition I have? By the label, the address and the markings in the runout – more in our guide Collecting Blue Note.