Customer Reviews

Candy

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Since the review below is not very informative, I thought I'd try to write one that is. "Candy" is the last of Lee Morgan's six 1950s sessions for Blue Note. With the sweet lineup of Sonny Clark on piano, Doug Watkins on bass and Art Taylor on drums, this is Lee's only quartet recording as a leader. "Candy" is a classic swinging, hard bop affair recorded on November 18, 1957. It features an all-standard repertoire, with the exception of Jimmy Heath's "C.T.A," which come to think of it, is probably a standard too nowadays. Morgan didn't record again as a leader until the 1960 album "Leeway," but in 1958 he did appear on classics like Jimmy Smith's "The Sermon" and Hank Mobley's "Peckin' Time" among others before joining Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers in October of that year. (If you're interested I have reviewed all three of the CDs I just mentioned.) With the other Lee Morgan 50s sessions only available as expensive imports (I believe the limited edition Mosaic set collecting all of these sessions has finally sold out), "Candy" is a delicious look at a young trumpeter who would become one of the defining voices of 60s jazz.

Of all Lee Morgan's many albums, I think this is his best - it at least is the one I like most. It's the only album Morgan made where he's the only horn; he's joined by Sonny Clark (p) Doug Watkins (b) and Art Taylor (d). Tune selection is excellent: the title track and Jimmy Heath's C.T.A. really swing, as does ALL AT ONCE YOU LOVE HER, which contains excellent solo work by Lee. Clark is in fine form. Everything just clicked perfectly on this outing, and it ended up being a great date for everyone. Hard bop at its finest.

Definitely one of Lee's best as a leader. "Candy" is about as sweet as it gets and my personal favorite by this legendary jazz trumpeter, perhaps just a fraction of a hair behind "Cornbread". Like Kenny Dorham's "Quiet Kenny", this would be Lee's only recording without a sax man beside him, his only quartet album. And like the former, this one is truly deserving of being dubbed a classic. I was amazed when I came upon the review page and saw that it had only been reviewed seven times. Then again, there are so many great jazz recordings that so few people have heard of or listen to. I loved every piece of `Candy'; there is not one song that is even close to being a let down.

It also helps having an amazing trio behind you - Sonny Clark on piano, Art Taylor on drums, and Doug Watkins on bass. The latter left this world way too soon, what a talent, what a shame (he died in an automobile accident in February of 1962 almost a month before his 28th birthday). He was really coming into his own at the time of this 1957-58 recording, coming off of the huge success of Sonny Rollins' "Saxophone Colossus". Both Taylor and Clark are excellent as well, Taylor often times reminds me of the great Art Blakey, he's just that great. And Sonny Clark is in my opinion one of the most underrated jazz pianists ever. The four of them are all in perfect rhythm and sync on this set. Bottom line, these cats could flat out play and this one is too good to pass up if you are a fan of great music.

An awesome accomplishment!

Lee Morgan was still a youngster when he recorded this album, but you'd never know it. His star was ascending, and this recording captures him during a period when his technical ability, artistic sensibility and youthful exuberance were all present in equal parts. The result? A beautiful album by a trumpete player celebrating his gift with a solid backing band. The perfect introduction to Morgan's music, it stands on its own, highlighting his jazz roots, before he explored his funkier side on albums such as "Cornbread."

Morgan's "Candy," like Kenny Dorham's "Quiet Kenny," is the only quartet session by the trumpeter. It wears better than some other things I've been listening to ("The Cooker," "City Lights," "The Gigolo"), with Morgan no less impressive on a restrained, tasteful, meditative "All the Way" than on the up-tempo tracks. Also, this is simply an untouchable rhythm section, with Doug Watkins' bass providing its usual vibrant, "living" pulse and rich but not exaggerated sound. If this one is reissued, I'm hoping it's not as another RVG remaster (the spiking of bass and drums, however welcome to younger ears--or, for that matter, to older ears that have begun to lose sensitivity to low and high frequencies--is not necessarily an improvement). This one sounds fine just as it is (and you can hardly beat the current Amazon price).

This is my fifth Lee Morgan CD and I love it. Pure vintage Lee, no doubt. With each CD, you fall in love all over again, so "Candy" is like over the top, love at first note. My favorite is "All the way" makes you feel like a pat of butter on a hot pan, oh, so, so, so mellow and lovely. The sound quality is crisp and you can hear each distinct musician's intrumental contribution to this delight. I wish Lee Morgan is just as well known as Miles Davis, so I feel sad for people who has not discover him yet. I haven't an extensive Lee collection and I like all of them, but by far this my favorite, so if you are new to the fan club, I highly recoment this for a starter but really all of his albums are great.

despite being advertized as "24bit Digitally Remastered Japanese Limited Edition in an LP-STYLE Slipcase", this is simply the original '87 Non-Remastered release. Therefore a deduction of one star. Please be careful with Product Description, Amazon.

Lee Morgan was so talented at such an early age. His sound was very sophisticated and his records showed that. 'Candy' would be a great choice for someone who wants to hear the talents of Lee Morgan. Really, not a weak moment on this set, and the musicianship is impeccable. Art Taylor on drums is superb, as are all the musicians. Light some candles, pour some wine, and enjoy this tasteful set.