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Jul 14, 2025 Web Exclusive By Frank Valish

Having worked with Dizzy Gillespie’s big band, releasing a few albums as a leader himself in the late ’50s, and then joining Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers in time for the classic Moanin’ in 1958, trumpeter Lee Morgan was a seasoned professional by the time he turned 21. Toward the end of his stint with Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, Morgan recorded this Here’s Lee Morgan in 1960.

The lineup for the album, reissued here on 180 gram vinyl by Craft Recordings as part of their Original Jazz Classics series, consists of Morgan, Clifford Jordan on tenor sax, Wynton Kelly on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Blakey himself on drums. And the album, in fact opens with Blakey’s rollicking drum pattern on the high spirited “Terrible ’T’.” Morgan’s “Mogie” is nearly eight minutes of delightful hard bop. And Morgan slows the pace on his smooth vibe-y take on the Sinatra tune “I’m a Fool to Want You.” Side B features three six-minute compositions of Wayne Shorter’s “Running Brook,” Milt Jackson’s “Off Spring,” and Morgan’s own “Bess.”

Piano, bass, and of course Blakey’s signature drums frame Morgan nicely throughout, but the trumpet is clearly the star of the set. Of course, Morgan would go on to record so many more classic albums before his untimely death in 1972. Here’s Lee Morgan proves that he was already a master of his craft at 21. (www.craftrecordings.com)

Author rating: 8/10