Along with Herbie Hancock, Dexter Gordon and Sonny Clark, Lee Morgan was one of the jazz musicians from the sixties who could often be relied upon for a strong melodic root. His albums ‘The Sidewinder’ and ‘The Rumproller’ are considered classics for a reason, and even when digging a little further into his work, ‘Candy’ (1957) and ‘Lee-Way’ (1960) are just as chock-full of great and accessible material. Miles Davis might get most of the credit when it comes to classic jazz trumpeters, but most of Morgan’s albums are just as rich. The bulk of his studio work is terrific, very much something jazz novices should gravitate towards after exhausting the usual routes.
Among fans, Morgan’s three night stand at The Lighthouse in 1970 has taken on almost mythical status. Highlights from the shows were released as a 2LP set in 1970. An expanded 3CD edition appeared in 1996, giving fans thirteen extra performances, but this was still rather incomplete. With that set becoming hard to find, fans have long hoped for a reissue.
‘The Complete Live At The Lighthouse’ will be released via Blue Note Records on July 23rd, 2021 and looks set to exceed expectations. For the first time, all twelve sets from the brief residency will be heard by those not lucky enough to be there. The 8CD box (or 12LP set for vinyl buyers) brings together all 33 performances, with twenty of those previously unreleased.
A full tracklisting, along with a previously unheard take of ‘The Beehive’ from Set 2, can be explored below.
Lee Morgan: The Complete Live at the Lighthouse Tracklist:
CD 1
Friday, July 10, 1970
1. Introduction by Lee Morgan (2:06) – Set 1
2. The Beehive (12:51) – Set 1*
3. Introduction (0:20) – Set 1
4. Something Like This (12:43) – Set 1
5. Yunjana (14:28) – Set 1*
6. Speedball (4:34) – Set 1*
CD 2
Friday, July 10, 1970
1. I Remember Britt (16:45) – Set 2*
2. Introduction (0:19) – Set 2*
3. Absolutions (21:55) – Set 2*
4. Speedball (3:46) – Set 2*
CD 3
Friday, July 10, 1970
1. Introduction (0:33) – Set 3*
2. Neophilia (18:52) – Set 3*
3. Introduction (0:47) – Set 3
4. 416 East 10th Street (11:46) – Set 3
5. The Sidewinder (12:49) – Set 3
6. Speedball (0:53) – Set 3
CD 4
Friday, July 10, 1970
1. Introduction (0:30) – Set 4*
2. Peyote (13:23) – Set 4*
3. Speedball (11:55) – Set 4
Saturday, July 11, 1970
4. Aon (13:47) – Set 1
5. Introduction (0:21) – Set 1*
6. Yunjana (17:32) – Set 1*
CD 5
Saturday, July 11, 1970
1. Introduction (0:14) – Set 2*
2. Something Like This (11:46) – Set 2*
3. Intro (0:28) – Set 2
4. I Remember Britt (14:25) – Set 2
5. Introduction (0:47) – Set 2*
6. The Beehive (15:23) – Set 2*
7. Speedball (7:00) – Set 2*
CD 6
Saturday, July 11, 1970
1. Neophilia (19:18) – Set 3*
2. Nommo (17:44) – Set 3
3. Peyote (11:24) – Set 4*
4. Absolutions (22:28) – Set 4
CD 7
Sunday, July 12, 1970
1. Introduction (1:37) – Set 1*
2. Something Like This (15:39) – Set 1*
3. Introduction (0:29) – Set 2
4. Yunjana (16:07) – Set 2
5. I Remember Britt (16:19) – Set 2*
6. Absolutions (19:35) – Set 2*
7. Speedball (0:27) – Set 2
CD 8
Sunday, July 12, 1970
1. Introduction (1:19) – Set 3
2. Neophilia (18:59) – Set 3
3. Introduction (0:46) – Set 3
4. The Beehive (15:11) – Set 3
5. Speedball (1:59) – Set 4
6. Peyote (9:27) – Set 4
7. Nommo (19:19) – Set 4*