Search - Frank Morgan :: Night in the Life: Live at the Jazz Standard

Another Strong Recording by Saxophonist Frank Morgan

R. Weinstock | Falls Church, VA USA | 10/11/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"One of several saxophone players to have been labeled the next Bird, Frank Morgan notes that it was the worst thing to happen to him as it was something no one could live up to. It did not help that he had three decades of personal adversity including addiction and prison. Since he has returned to the scene in the mid-eighties he re-established himself as a superior player in the post-Parker tradition with a string of excellent recordings for Contemporary. HighNote has issued "A Night in the Light: Live at the Jazz Standard Vol. 3" with a marvelous band that includes pianist George Cables, bassist Carmen Lundy and drummer Billy Hart. I have not heard the earlier two volumes but based on the performances I will seek them out. No surprises in the repertoire, with four of the songs staples of Charlie Parker's repertoire, "Confirmation," "Half Nelson," "Hot House" and "Billie's Bounce," along with "On Green Dolphin Street" and "It's Only a Paper Moon." These are songs Morgan has been playing for decades but familiarity does not make these performances sound routine. There is plenty of full-bodied playing here with a marvelous rhythm section and while Morgan may take these in a more relaxed fashion than Bird would have 55 years ago, Morgan's playing is throughly satisfying. Certainly nice that he has aged so gracefully and continues to enliven us with this disc.

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