Content Stats & Analytics for @jazzandcoffee

Syd Schwartz
@jazzandcoffee

13,547 followers

“The Sidewinder” was an accidental, runaway success that placed the struggling Blue Note label on solid financial footing and established Lee Morgan’s reputation as a jazz trumpet icon while simultaneously creating a challenge for Morgan and other hard-boppers. If there’s anything a label loves, it’s a hit. And if there’s anything they love more, it’s *ANOTHER* hit—the bigger, the better! The manifest function of Morgan’s hastily composed (allegedly scrawled on toilet tissue in the studio bathroom) was the final track for the now iconic ‘The Sidewinder’ album. The latent function was the establishment of “the Sidewinder manifesto,” an unwritten label guideline impacting A&R, artist relations, and release strategy, as Blue Note endeavored to make lightning strike twice. But you can’t “create” an accidental phenomenon any more than you can “make something go viral,” so instead of more Sidewinders, Blue Note got a lot of not-as-great boogaloo numbers and shelved more interesting records like “Cornbread,” which celebrates an anniversary today. There’s nothing accidental here—21 months since ‘The Sidewinder,’ the prolific and preternaturally talented Morgan leads a sextet at the peak of their powers in an impeccably recorded session with more variety than ‘The Sidewinder,’ even if it doesn’t draw as many accolades. Jackie McLean-alto sax, Herbie Hancock-piano, Hank Mobley-tenor sax, Larry Ridley-bass, and Billy Higgins-drums each bring their best without a wasted note, useless flourish, or botched handoff. It’s the total package, whether you’re in the mood for a marvelous ballad (“Ceora”) or a nine-minute masterclass in musicianship (“Our Man Higgins”). I hear the frustration from those who’ve been waiting for a Tone Poet repress, and it WILL happen—as soon as I hear anything, I’ll let you know! #leemorgan #jazzvinyl #vinylcommunity #jackiemclean