Customer Reviews

Search For The New Land - Morgan, Lee

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4 star:		(2)
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An album like "Search for the New Land" is noteworthy most of all for the quality of its musicianship, of course, but it also serves as a reminder of the loss that jazz suffered from Morgan's untimely death in 1972.

Prior to the release of "Search for the New Land," Morgan had demonstrated he was something special on trumpet, most notably through his work with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, where he honed his skills and formed a lasting bond with saxophonist Wayne Shorter. He's reunited with Shorter on this album, and both of them show how well they were served by their apprenticeship with Blakey.

For example, the title tune is a sophisticated composition that moves lyrically and unpredictably through nearly 16 minutes. It allows all the soloists (Morgan, Shorter, guitarist Grant Green, and pianist Herbie Hancock) plenty of room, but it is far more than a blowing session over a simple set of changes. It's an evocative tune with shifting passages that stimulates extremely creative work from all concerned.

Morgan's jaunty, bouncing sound is also on good display here, with "The Joker" and "Morgan the Pirate," as his lyricism, in "Melancholee." Throughout, I'm reminded of what a great team he and Shorter made. Wayne's compelling combination of grittiness, lyricism, and melancholy match perfectly with the drive and humor I always found in Morgan's playing.

If you have not yet discovered Lee Morgan, do yourself a favor and plunge into his Blue Note discography. "Search for the New Land" is a good opener, one that will provide compelling evidence that Morgan's death deprived jazz of one of its most eloquent voices.

If, like me, you have previously been mainly exposed to the bubbly, frenetic side of Lee Morgan's musical personality, "Search for the New Land" holds some pleasant surprises in store. This album showcases an instrospective side of Lee Morgan that exposes a poignant sensitivity in addition to his well known bouyancy and exuberance. I got this album four days ago and for some reason the disc just can't seem to find its way out of my CD player. Here are a couple reasons why. First, you simply can't get better personnel that Lee assembled for this session. Wayne Shorter, an old comrade from the Art Blakey days, is reunited with Lee on this date and its obvious that is one happy reunion! They blend perfectly with each other on the ensemble passages, and Wayne's sharp edges are the perfect foil for Lee's big round tone. Herbie Hancock, Grant Green, Reggie Workman and Billy Higgins combine to form what must be God's idea of a rhythm section. Secondly, this ablbum cooks! From the bubbling boil of 'Kenyatta' and 'Morgan the Pirate' to the slow-roasting lyricism of 'Search for the New Land' and 'Melancholee', every tune engages your palate with its own special flavor. This album is characterized by beautifully flowing solos in which these artists' formidable technique is nonetheless a servant, not a master, of their musical creativity. These men swing hard and every note has meaning. Third, you have to check out the writing! These tunes, all penned by Lee, are ample demonstration of Lee's muscial growth during this period. This album, more than any other on which I have heard Lee, gives an indication of the greatness that was snatched away from us with Lee's passing. In short, run, do not walk, to the nearest link to this album! 'Search for the New Land' is the real deal!

Before CD was introduced, I owned a lot of those old Blue Note recordings on old fahsioned vinyl. In those days, this was my favorite, and when CD came around, this was the first one I replaced (allthough I still think jazz sounds best from those great black things, but who am I to frown upon progress:)).

My dear readers.... to this day, every single Lee Morgan recording amazes me (his fabulous technique, his musical ideas and his compositions always do the trick) but this is the one out of the bag. The title track is of a rare perfection, everybody playing here is in terrific shape. There isn't a single note out of place, the mood is set from the beginning and the piece moves back and forth with stunning musicianship. One of the reviewers here likened it to the ocean, rolling on and off the beach and that is indeed the best picture. It is a meditative, thought-provoking moodpiece that must have been a real eye-opener when it was originally released.

The rest of the CD is in more regular vein, with up-tempo swingers and the signature waltz, but don't let that fool you. It is the same ensemble of musicians at work and they know how to play. Herbie Hancock - an emerging pianist at the time - is solid as a rock, Reggie Workman and Billy Higgins are forming a creative rhythm-section anyone would like to have backing him up, guitar-player Grant Green adds a bluesiness very much his own. Sideman Wayne Shorter blows his horn like he was born with it.

Enough said, ladies and gentlemen. This is a CD you should have. If you have never heard this recording before, I bet you anything you won't get past the title track first time you play it. Get ready for something very special.

Do yourself a favor and buy this CD. You will never regret it.

10 years and 100 jazz cd purchases later, this is still one of my all time favorites. the title track to this album is a great moody tune, with grant, herbie, wayne, lee all taking really expressive solos. each of them finds a groove which in my mind, is as any of the work that they were doing at this time.

all the other tunes are good as well, some real swinging hard-bop...there's no weak material on this set, but the title track is definitely stand out stuff.

Wow, Lee Morgan with Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Grant Green, Reggie Workman and Billy Higgins!When I picked up that CD while spending my holiday in Miami, I said to my wife: "Look at that personnel, those men can't do no wrong". Coming back home to Austria you can be sure that the first thing I did was listening to that great music. Regardless how successful Lee Morgan had been with his big hit "The Sidewinder", recorded just the year before, I think that many insiders will prefer this more subtle album. The long title tune is particulary rewarding, offering each soloist much space to explore. Get it and you will not be disapointed.

Other reviewers have adequately described the contents, and justifiably praised it, so I'm not going to do it all over again. However, jazz-lovers who come across these words should feel assured that there is no way they could possibly be disappointed with "Search." It's an impeccably performed selection of Lee Morgan compositions with a fabulous group. Everyone is in top form, incuding the engineers who recorded the session and mastered the CD.

This is one of those albums which, if you put it on while reading a really great novel, will cause you to put down the book and listen to the solos.

Don't even hesitate. Your collection is incomplete.

Lee Morgan was in the process of straightening out his life when Blue Note assembled an all-star cast for this recording. The lengthy title track was written by Lee and features ebb-and-flow of tempo like the ocean rolling into shore. Guitarist Grant Green, known for playing in organ combos, shows a serious side on the title track. Herbie Hancock, just getting established at this time, was a superior accompanist who played a breathtaking langerous solo, with perfect note selection; one of Blue Note's finest moments. Wayne Shorter and Billy Higgins make outstanding contributions as well. The title track alone is reason enough to own this CD. Only the Blue Note label of the 1960's could have pulled off this session, with its second-to-none cast and devotion to artistry.

I am relatively new to jazz, but this CD has made me fall in love with it and with Lee Morgan. His tone and overall sound shout confidence and tell you exactly what he was feeling. The music takes you over with the great tunes and powerful tone. I definitely reccommend this CD as well as all of his others, but mostly his Greatest Hits CD which is just fantastic...and is self-explanatory--all of the best of Lee Morgan. It's a MUST HAVE!!

This a great recording that really brings out the different sides to Lee Morgan. The title track is a classic and worth the price alone. Morgan is genuinely known for a straight bebop style with great technical skill...sort of like Freddie Hubbard. But "Search" is a different side to his playing b/c it explores modal tones that are very expressive and not unlike Miles on moody pieces on like "Guinnevere". The other tunes are more akin to his style. Lee Morgan burns.I recommend this recording.

The first jazz album I ever bought. (Big Thanx to B-side in Madison WI) 100+ jazz discs later, there is still very little that surpasses the title track on this disc. Not that the other stuff is second rate or anything. The whole album swings, but man that title track...