Sonic Boom (Lee Morgan album)

Sonic Boom is an album by jazz trumpeter Lee Morgan, recorded on April 14 and 28, 1967, but not released on the Blue Note label until 1979.

Sonic Boom
Studio album by
Released1979
RecordedApril 14 & 28, 1967
StudioVan Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ
GenreJazz, hard bop
Length37:25 original LP
74:19 CD reissue
LabelBlue Note
LT 987
ProducerAlfred Lion (#1-6)
Francis Wolff (#7-13)
Lee Morgan chronology
Standards
(1967)
Sonic Boom
(1979)
The Procrastinator
(1969)
Alternative cover
Japanese edition
Alternative cover
2003 CD reissue

The 2003 CD reissue added seven tracks recorded on September 12 & October 10, 1969, which were first released on the original double LP edition of The Procrastinator. Therefore, the CD edition includes performances by Morgan with two line-ups: the first one with tenor saxophonist David "Fathead" Newman, pianist Cedar Walton, bassist Ron Carter, and drummer Billy Higgins, whilst the second features trombonist Julian Priester, tenor saxophonist George Coleman, pianist Harold Mabern, bassist Walter Booker, and drummer Mickey Roker. The Sonic Boom session is notable for the rare contribution of David "Fathead" Newman,[1] who made only two Blue Note appearances during his career, the other being with Lonnie Smith.

Reception edit

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [2]
The Guardian     [3]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz    [4]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide     [5]

Wrtiting for AllAboutJazz, Germein Linares described Sonic Boom as "an underrated gem" and "vintage Morgan", highlighting the "remarkable" pairing of Morgan and Newman in the session's frontline.[6] In a more muted review for The Guardian, jazz critic John Fordham described Morgan's improvisations as "models of shrewdly paced virtuosity" and noted Newman's propensity for 'imaginative' playing, something often obscrued in his other more commerical sessions.[3] Newman's importance to the session was also identified by Scott Yanow for AllMusic, who concluded that Sonic Boom was an "undeservedly obscure session".[2]

Track listing edit

All compositions by Lee Morgan except where noted

  1. "Sneaky Pete" - 5:45
  2. "The Mercenary" - 7:10
  3. "Sonic Boom" - 6:18
  4. "Fathead" - 5:27
  5. "I'll Never Be the Same" (Malneck, Signorelli, Kahn) - 7:16
  6. "Mumbo Jumbo" - 5:29

2003 bonus tracks on CD reissue, originally part of The Procrastinator:

  1. "Free Flow" (Coleman) - 4:50
  2. "Stormy Weather" (Arlen, Koehler) - 5:44
  3. "Mr. Johnson" (Mabern) - 6:11
  4. "The Stroker" (Priester) - 5:47
  5. "Uncle Rough" (Mabern) - 5:35
  6. "Claw-Til-Da" (Roker) - 3:07
  7. "Untitled Boogaloo" - 5:40

Recorded on April 14, 1967 (#3) and April 28, 1967 (#1-2, 4-6); September 12, 1969 (#8-9, 13) and October 10, 1969 (#7, 10-12).

Personnel edit

Tracks 1-6

Tracks 7-13

References edit

  1. ^ Blue Note Records. "10 by 3: Mobley, Morgan and Byrd in 1967". Blue Note Spotlight. Blue Note Records. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  2. ^ a b Yanow, Scott. "Sonic Boom Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  3. ^ a b Fordham, John (2004). "Lee Morgan, Sonic Boom". The Guardian. No. Jan. 02. Guardian News & Media Limited. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  4. ^ Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 1041. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.
  5. ^ Swenson, J., ed. (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. p. 147. ISBN 0-394-72643-X.
  6. ^ Linares, Germein (2004). "Lee Morgan: Sonic Boom". AllAboutJazz. No. 20 Jan. All About Jazz & Jazz Near You. Retrieved 30 April 2024.