Lee Morgan: The Sidewinder
Musicians:
Lee Morgan (trumpet), Joe Henderson (tenor sax), Barry Harris (piano), Bob Cranshaw (bass), Billy Higgins (drums).
Composed by Lee Morgan
.Recorded: Englewood Cliffs, N.J., December 21, 1963
Rating: 99/100 (learn more)
Morgan spent the majority of 1962 and 1963 in Philadelphia in the clutches of a heroin habit he picked up while in the Jazz Messengers. After a brief (and not totally successful) stint in rehab, he returned to Van Gelder Studio on December 21, 1963 to record The Sidewinder. A surprise hit, it peaked at number 25 on the Pop LP charts in early 1965 and snuck into the R&B Top 10, becoming Blue Note’s greatest commercial success.
The rhythm section’s bouncy groove on “The Sidewinder” is so irresistible and the melody so catchy it’s possible to neglect what is one of Morgan’s most impressive recorded solos. It’s meticulously constructed with logic and clarity, and Morgan displays a modesty that he often lacked in his ostentatious youth. His phrasing is especially noteworthy; the spaces he leaves between his concise ideas serve as timely punctuations that enhance the efficacy of each statement, creating three bluesy choruses that breathe and build organically. It’s also Morgan at his coolest and funkiest, grooving like none other.
The unexpected success of “The Sidewinder” left Blue Note determined to produce another hit single. Dozens of mid-1960s LPs kicked off with bluesy R&B-tinged tracks in an effort to place the label back on the charts. Though most of these tracks were solid, none would ever duplicate the success of Morgan’s original.
Reviewer: Matt Leskovic
Other reviews for this track:
- Lee Morgan: The Sidewinder by David Franklin (90/100)
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Tags: 1960s jazz · blue note · jazz hit singles · the sidewinder · trumpet
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