Sidewinder

Lee Morgan | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Blue Note Records
• ASIN: B000005HCM
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #173,962 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #57 in Music > Indie Music > Jazz > Boogaloo

Track Listings

1. The Sidewinder

2. Totem Pole

3. Totem Pole (Alternate Take)

4. Gary's Notebook

5. Boy, What A Night

6. Hocus-Pocus

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The Philadelphia-born trumpeter and superb bop stylist Lee Morgan apprenticed with Dizzy Gillespie and Art Blakey before emerging as a leader in his own right in the early '60s for Blue Note Records. Although Morgan owed a stylistic debt to both Gillespie and Clifford Brown, he quickly developed a voice of his own that combined half-valve effects, Latin inflections, and full, fluid melodies.

While many of Morgan's later sessions for Blue Note would find him paired with saxophonist Hank Mobley, The Sidewinder features the then up-and-coming tenor player Joe Henderson, along with Detroit pianist Barry Harris, bassist Bob Cranshaw, and drummer Billy Higgins. Along with the title track, an unconventional 24-bar blues, the album's compositional standout is "Totem Pole," a minor Latin groove featuring an outstanding solo by Henderson. This is the kind of relaxed blowing date, invigorated by thoughtful performances, that forms the backbone of the Blue Note catalog. --Fred Goodman

Product Description

Club-goers everywhere have reveled to the rapturous sounds of this 1963 classic for decades. Latin and R&B influences crept in as the young trumpet genius and his band bristle with energy on the irresistible title tune; Totem Pole; Hocus Pocus; Gary's Notebook , and more (including a bonus Totem Pole alternate take on the CD)! --This text refers to the Vinyl edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hard-Bop at its finest., December 22, 1998

By 

Jeremy Kuhar ([e-mail]) (Philadelphia, Pa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sidewinder (Audio CD)

Lee Morgan, Joe Henderson, Barry Harris, Bob Crenshaw, and Billy Higgins come together to help create one of Hard-bop's finest moments in time. With provocative phrasing and innovative technique Morgan shows why he is the best in Hard-bop trumpeting. Picking up where he left off in the Jazz messengers, Morgan continues to bring the blues influence back to the foreground in Jazz. In the tracks "Gary's Notebook", "Boy, What A Night", and "Hocus Pocus" Morgan defines what was to be known as the Hard-bop sound. Easily one the ten best Jazz albms of all time. An essential album in every Jazz fan's collection.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A pearl to dive for, April 3, 2005

By 

Antonio "Antonio de España" (Madrid Spain) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sidewinder (Audio CD)

This album is a must for anyone who likes jazz and good music in general. Lee Morgan gives the personality of his trumpet to the tracks and the sound of the album is so exciting. The track of the title is impressive, but the pearl of the album is Totem Pole.

If you want to hit the mark buying a jazz album, this is your purchase. It won't dissapoint you, rather on the contrary, you'll think you should've never missed this.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A timeless classic, November 5, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Sidewinder (Audio CD)

The Sidewinder is a catchy funk tune which captured popularity and recognition for Morgan. Looking beyond the title track, Totem Pole is treasure for rhythmic interaction between all of the players. Gary's Notebook has a superb Joe Henderson solo which I have found to be worthwhile to transcribe. Intriguing enough for the conoisseur, yet assecible enough for anybody, this is an excellent addition to any library