Lee Morgan - Candy (Mono Remastered) (1958/2020) [Hi-Res]

Classical music is full of child prodigies but they are somewhat rare in jazz. Lee Morgan was an exception, for he was a brilliant trumpeter while still a teenager. His musical genius is difficult to explain; but easy to hear. Lee Morgan emerged fully formed technically along with a crackling intensity and passion that was a joy to experience. By the time he recorded Candy in 1959, the 20-year old had already led five albums for Blue Note, and had logged valuable time with not only the Dizzy Gillespie Big Band, but also as a member of (what some consider) the finest edition of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. Candy is a unique item in Morgan's history for it is the only quartet album that Morgan ever recorded. In fact, no other horns were needed! Candy features the trumpeter playing with beauty, fire, passion and a mature lyricism exceeding most musicians double his age. Joined by a rhythm section of young giants including pianist Sonny Clark, Morgan burns on the faster pieces but puts plenty of feeling into "All The Way," the soulful "Since I Fell For You" and "Personality." At 20, Lee Morgan was already a modern master and, from this point forward, considered one of the great trumpet men of jazz. Who said that youth was wasted on the young?

"Recorded when he was only 19, Candy was one of the first albums (along with The Cooker, recorded the same year) where Lee Morgan showed his own unique style. His prodigal technical virtuosity had already been proven at this time in the Dizzy Gilliespie band, but Morgan's first solo ventures had been remarkable only because of his young age. Here, the influence of some of Morgan's mentors can be seen, but instead of just emulating the style of older trumpeters like Clifford Brown, he has begun absorbing bits and pieces of the phrasing and style of a wide range of musicians, from Gillespie to Miles Davis, then using them to forge his own sound. Morgan places himself front and center here -- there are no other horns to carry the melodic lines, leaving him quite exposed, but he manages to perform beautifully. Not merely a technical marvel, his tone on this album was sweet and his playing fluid, infused with joy and crisply articulated emotion. Morgan would later turn out to be an expert songwriter, but here songs like Buddy Johnson's "Since I Fell for You," and Jimmy Heath's "C.T.A." gave him ample space to show off his talents." (Stacia Proefrock, AMG)

Lee Morgan, trumpet
Sonny Clark, piano
Doug Watkins, bass
Art Taylor, drums

Produced by Alfred Lion

Digitally remastered