Let it be clear right off the
bat that alto sax giant Frank Morgan was first and foremost a dedicated
bebopper. Sure, he made entire albums of beautiful ballads, but bop was #1.
Just look at the list of tunes on this exciting duo with the marvelous pianist
George Cables. To name a few, how about "Now's The Time", "A
Night In Tunisia", "'Round Midnight", "Confirmation"
and a medley of "Nefertiti" and "Billie's Bounce". The
occasion was the 1989 Montreal Jazz Festival where Morgan and Cables took the
stage for this previously unreleased romp. Cables had of course been the
pianist of choice for another alto great, Art Pepper. So he maneuvers in
familiar territory for the gifted alto playing brother of trumpet hero Lee
Morgan. The two of them communicate effortlessly but vigorously on the above
named tunes and lots more. Frank Morgan may not have achieved the acclaim of
his brother, but the equivalent talent was obvious. Just the two of
them---Morgan and Cables---delivering the intimacy that often happens in a duo
performance. And you can be sure that it happened on this July night in Montreal.
High Note; 2018; appx. 60 min.
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