****RINGER OF THE WEEK****LAST OF THE BEBOPPERS? Frank Morgan & George Cables: Montreal Memories

Recorded at the the Montreal Jazz Festival back in Dominion Day, 1989, this previously unreleased concert finds one of the last of the original bebop alto players at the renaissance of his career. Frank Morgan (1933-2007) was one of the key sax players of the early fifties, jamming with Dexter Gordon and Wardell Gray, even being offered a job with Duke Ellington to fill Johnny Hodges’ vacancy. Unfortunately, he got sidelined with addiction problems, and got put in  prison (from 1962-86) where he, along with fellow addict/musician Art Pepper, formed a prison band, of all things!

Here, he’s out of the slammer and enjoying the freedom and new lease on life. He teams with pianist George Cables for a collection of duets that is the epitome of what bebop was all about, namely celebration and art. Morgan plays with an authoritatively relaxed swing that can only come from someone who has modern jazz in his blood. He sighs on the suave solo of “All the Things You Are” and his soft tone floats like a hawk over Cables’ hip pulse on “Now’s the Time.” His cry squeezes out the notes on “’Round Midnight” and glides sweetly like Hodges while Gables gives a rich full bodied solo on “Blues For Rosalinda.” Morgan shows his ear for the post-bop scene as well, delivering a rich read of Wayne Shorter’s “Nefertiti” before skipping like a stone on “Billie’s Bounce.” This album is a strong reminder of how buoyant and life-affirming jazz can be. Like walking through a baroque church and gazing at the Titian blue skies.

High Note Records

www.jazzdepot.com

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