This CD is one of the winning CDs for 2009!  Master alto saxophonist Lanny Morgan has been in the forefront of many fantastic, straight-ahead jazz groups for over fifty years.  This CD is a supreme effort and features his ensemble of star veteran jazz musicians.  Seven of the ten pieces are also written by Morgan as well.  The sextet members are:  Bob Summers - trumpet, Doug Webb - tenor sax, Tom Rainer - piano, Chuck Berghofer - bass and Steve Schaeffer - drums.   

“Minor March,” a tune by famed sax man, Jackie McLean, starts off the CD and is a real jazz mover.  Right off, it shows the true cohesiveness of the horns’ front line work.  The rhythm guys, Rainer, Berghofer and Schaeffer, drive the sextet mightily.  Morgan writes his own liner notes and describes this first number like “Night in Tunisia” backwards!  All numbers in this production swing and are very jazzy.  Several of Morgan’s own creations, I noticed, have some good jazzy themes attached in the beginnings, such as “Rollin’,” “Polecat” and “Bagatelle.”   

“Bird Song” is a Thad Jones tune easily reminiscent of Charlie Parker’s style and, as Morgan says in his liner notes, “it was love at first hearing” on a J. J. Johnson record; Morgan then wrote it out for the sextet.  “Between Races” is a novel number by the great flugelhorn legend, Chuck Mangione.  It has a lot of musical depth with everyone’s solos throughout.  A sweet standout tune is “Little Folks,” which Morgan wrote for his son and daughter when they were 4 and 2 years old, respectively.  “Little folks laugh and sing and while away the day” is Morgan’s beautiful memory of his children growing up.  

Excellent material and perfect for some real “live” jazz listening!  See www.lannymorgan.com for a well worthwhile purchase and great listening. 
 

Reprinted with permission from L.A. Jazz Scene, February 2010.

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