Lee Morgan • Delightfulee

Review by Michael G. Nastos
As Lee Morgan's career moved from hard and post-bop to soul-jazz, Delightfulee serves as a further bridge in a half-and-half fashion. Four of the seven cuts feature his potent quintet with a young and emerging tenor saxophonist, Joe Henderson, as his front line mate, McCoy Tyner ever brilliant on piano, and Billy Higgins firing up the rhythm as only the drummer could. The remainder of the date consists of tracks orchestrated by Oliver Nelson featuring an 11-piece ensemble. There are two selections that feature versions of compositions with both configurations. "Zambia" is a post-bop classic in Morgan's repertoire, sporting a memorable, concise, no-nonsense melody line punctuated by Tyner's piano chords, but in big-band style, it is full and rich, maybe too much so. The easy, deep waltz "Delightful Deggie," may benefit from the orchestration. Wayne Shorter is the featured tenor on the larger group tracks, while saxophonists Danny Bank and Phil Woods (both doubling on flute, a rarity for Woods),trombonist Tom McIntosh, tuba player Don Butterfield,and French Horn icon James Buffington supply the depth. The drummer for the big-and cuts is Philly Joe Jones, and again, is quite a contrast to the smoother Higgins. Of the small ensemble cuts, the fun calypso boogaloo "Ca-Lee-So" is a postscript for Morgan's big hit "The Sidewinder," recorded three years prior. Tyner strokes out kinetic forms during "Nite Flite," and dips into deep blues for "Deggie." Morgan and Henderson's solos are always spot on. The best big-band track, "Sunrise, Sunset" from Fiddler on the Roof, is extremely hip and features a relaxed Shorter, while the worst, a somber samba take on the Beatles' "Yesterday," seems a throwaway. For some this will always be an oddball release of Morgan's, but it does suggest moving on into what would be a fruitful and successful final five years.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/delightfulee-mw0000205302

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Reseña de Michael G. Nastos
Cuando la carrera de Lee Morgan pasó del hard y el post-bop al soul-jazz, Delightfulee sirve como un puente más a medias. Cuatro de los siete cortes presentan su potente quinteto con un joven y emergente saxofonista tenor, Joe Henderson, como compañero de primera línea, McCoy Tyner siempre brillante al piano, y Billy Higgins disparando el ritmo como sólo el baterista podría hacerlo. El resto de la fecha consiste en temas orquestados por Oliver Nelson con un conjunto de 11 músicos. Hay dos selecciones que presentan versiones de composiciones con ambas configuraciones. "Zambia" es un clásico post-bop en el repertorio de Morgan, con una línea melódica memorable, concisa y sin complicaciones, puntuada por los acordes de piano de Tyner, pero en el estilo de la big band, es plena y rica, quizás demasiado. El vals fácil y profundo "Delightful Deggie" puede beneficiarse de la orquestación. Wayne Shorter es el tenor principal en los temas del grupo más grande, mientras que los saxofonistas Danny Bank y Phil Woods (ambos doblando en flauta, una rareza para Woods), el trombonista Tom McIntosh, el tubista Don Butterfield y el icono de la trompa James Buffington aportan la profundidad. El baterista de los cortes grandes es Philly Joe Jones y, de nuevo, contrasta con el más suave Higgins. De los cortes del pequeño conjunto, el divertido calipso boogaloo "Ca-Lee-So" es un epílogo del gran éxito de Morgan "The Sidewinder", grabado tres años antes. Tyner acaricia formas cinéticas durante "Nite Flite", y se sumerge en un profundo blues para "Deggie". Los solos de Morgan y Henderson son siempre perfectos. El mejor tema de big-band, "Sunrise, Sunset" de Fiddler on the Roof, es extremadamente moderno y cuenta con un relajado Shorter, mientras que el peor, una sombría versión de samba de "Yesterday" de los Beatles, parece un desperdicio. Para algunos, este disco siempre será una rareza de Morgan, pero sugiere el paso a lo que sería un fructífero y exitoso último lustro.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/delightfulee-mw0000205302

Tracklist
1 - Ca-Lee-So
Written-By – Lee Morgan
2 - Zambia
Written-By – Lee Morgan
3 - Nite Flite
Written-By – Lee Morgan
4 - The Delightful Deggie
Written-By – Lee Morgan
5 - Need I?
Written-By – Lee Morgan
6 - Filet Of Soul
Written-By – Lee Morgan
7 - Zambia (Big Band Version)
Written-By – Lee Morgan
8 - The Delightful Deggie (Big Band Version)
Written-By – Lee Morgan
9 - Sunrise, Sunset
Written-By – J. Bock*, S. Harnick*
10 - Yesterday
Written-By – J. Lennon-P. McCartney*

Credits:
    Alto Saxophone, Flute – Phil Woods (tracks: 5 to 10)
    Arranged By – Oliver Nelson (tracks: 5 to 10)
    Baritone Saxophone, Flute, Bass Clarinet – Danny Bank (tracks: 5 to 10)
    Bass – Bob Cranshaw
    Design [Cover] – Reid Miles
    Drums – Philly Joe Jones* (tracks: 5 to 10), Billy Higgins (tracks: 1 to 4)
    French Horn – Jimmy Buffington* (tracks: 5 to 10)
    Liner Notes – Leonard Feather
    Photography By [Cover Photo] – Francis Wolff
    Piano – McCoy Tyner
    Producer – Alfred Lion
    Reissue Producer [Produced For Release] – Michael Cuscuna
    Tenor Saxophone – Joe Henderson (tracks: 1 to 4), Wayne Shorter (tracks: 5 to 10)
    Transferred By [Digital Transfer] – Ron McMaster
    Trombone – Tom McIntosh (tracks: 5 to 10)
    Trumpet – Ernie Royal (tracks: 5 to 10), Lee Morgan
    Tuba – Don Butterfield (tracks: 5 to 10)

Notes
Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on May 27, 1966 (#1-4) and April 8, 1966 (#5-10).
Engineer [Recording] – Rudy Van Gelder
    
Label: Blue Note – CDP 7 84243 2
Genre: Jazz
Style: Hard Bop, Big Band
https://www.discogs.com/Lee-Morgan-Delightfulee/release/3111739

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