Severius Reviews: Lee Morgan - Candy - Severius!

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Severius Reviews: Lee Morgan - Candy

Blue Note 1590 Mono Classic reissue 200 gram Quiex-SV-P vinyl
The album opens with the title track, a show tune type which runs the risk of excessively symmetrical construction and hence boredom. While not at the level of the worse instances of kitch (as are, for example, many selections on Ammons' Boss Tenor), it sounds a touch corny. Still, it has something to offer with such things as excellent ensemble, tight soles and excellent playing by Morgan.
"Since I Fell For You' is a ballad. I should make it clear how I feel about about ballads. I don't simply hate ballads; I HATE ballads. I HATE them. Nearly every ballad (with rare exceptions) represents a loss on a record for me; less music, more irriation; their presence means a diminuation of musical enjoyment.
"C.T.A." then brings us to a high point; a fast, driving composition featuring nice playing and the kind of jazz tune that may be listened over and over with continued interest.
Side 2 opens with a really dreary bore, "All The Way". Listen to it once; skip past it ever after. The remaining 2 tunes are faster, better, and feature excellent work, especially from Sonny Clark, who's piano, is contrast to stereo Blue Notes, isn't buried somewhere in the mix, sounding as tho it's crammed into a phone booth. Here, the piano shines forth; and it's a good thing, given the quality of Clark's playing.
Thruout, Morgan's is logic especially evident. The firmness with which he works out his ideas; the incisive, confident way he plays, are impressive. Interestingly, he seems not to have yet developed the fearless aggresiveness, along with the bright, rasping high notes that characterize his playing on The Sidewinder and thereafter. His playing also sounds cleaner, maybe a result of less chance taking.
The sound is excellent mono, superior to the many stereo Blue Notes I've heard in many different remasterings (the exception being "Blue Train"). But, Van Gelder's technique of injecting fake echo to a soloists high note, sometimes with a shift to a distant perspective, is already present.
All in all, some nice music, tho far from a jazz classic worth the kind of money people say that original pressings fetch.

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Topic - Severius Reviews: Lee Morgan - Candy - Severius! 20:12:56 10/28/02 (1)

Nice review, Sev... - anson 19:00:54 10/30/02 (0)

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