Lee Morgan - Dizzy Atmosphere

AllMusic Review by Scott Yanow

This somewhat obscure Lee Morgan set (originally cut for Specialty and made available on CD in the OJC series) features the trumpeter with other then-current members of the Dizzy Gillespie big band: trombonist Al Grey, tenor saxophonist Billy Mitchell, baritonist Billy Root, pianist Wynton Kelly, bassist Paul West, and drummer Charlie Persip. With arrangements provided by Benny Golson and Roger Spotts, the music is modern bop for the period. Highlights include the ten-and-a-half-minute "Dishwater," "Over the Rainbow," and an early version of Golson's "Whisper Not." Morgan plays extremely well throughout the spirited set, and he was just 18 at the time.

01 Dishwater (Take 4–Master) Written-By – Roger Spotts* 10:38 02 Someone I Know (Take 6–Master) Written-By – Roger Spotts*, W. Douglas* 3:58 03 D.D.T. (Take 5–Master) Written-By – Roger Spotts* 3:58 04 Whisper Not (Take 5–Master) Written-By – Benny Golson 5:46 05 About Time (Take 5 –Master) Written-By – Roger Spotts* 3:00 06 Day By Day (Take 2–Master) Written-By – Alex Stordahl*, Paul Weston (2), Sammy Cahn 3:10 07 Rite Of Swing (Take 3–Master) Written-By – Roger Spotts* 3:00 08 Over The Rainbow (Take 4–Master) Written-By – E. Y. "Yip" Harburg*, Harold Arlen 4:10 09 Someone I Know (Take 3–Alternate) Written-By – Roger Spotts*, W. Douglas* 3:59 10 Whisper Not (Take 3-4–Alternate) Written-By – Benny Golson 5:53 11 Over The Rainbow (Take 3–Alternate) Written-By – E. Y. "Yip" Harburg*, Harold Arlen 4:14 Arranged By – Benny Golson (tracks: 4, 6), Roger Spotts* (tracks: 1 to 3, 5, 7 to 11) Baritone Saxophone – Billy Root Bass – Paul West Compiled By, Reissue Producer – Billy Vera Design [Original Album] – John Ewing (5) Drums – Charlie Persip Piano – Wynton Kelly Tenor Saxophone – Billy Mitchell Transferred By [Digitally] – Gordon Skene Trombone – Al Grey Trumpet – Lee Morgan Producer [Original Sessions] – Art Rupe Engineer [Recording] – Abe "Bunny" Robyn* Liner Notes [Original Album] – Ralph J. Gleason Mastered By – Stewart Whitmore Photography By – William Claxton Recorded at Master Recorders, Hollywood; February 18, 1957 Mastered at A & M Studios. Phonographic Copyright (p) – Specialty Records Inc. Copyright (c) – Specialty Records Inc.