Although recorded in 1965, this excellent
Lee Morgan Quintet session (which features the trumpeter with altoist
Jackie McLean, pianist
Larry Willis, bassist
Reggie Workman, and drummer
Billy Higgins) was not released until 1980 and quickly went out of print until this 1998 CD reissue. It deserved a much better fate. The music (four
Morgan and one
McLean originals), even while being tied to the hard bop tradition, is challenging and (with the exception of the closing uptempo blues "Zip Code") quite tricky; really inspiring the talented players. An underrated gem. ~ Scott Yanow