About

Trumpeter Lee Morgan was just 19 years old and still early on in his lengthy Blue Note association when he cut his brightly swinging album City Lights in August 1957. The date featured a wonderful sextet with Curtis Fuller on trombone, George Coleman on alto and tenor saxophone, Ray Bryant on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Art Taylor on drums. The brilliant young trumpet prodigy was still turning heads with his show-stealing performances as part of the Dizzy Gillespie Big Band, and this excellent 5-song set presented further evidence of his irrepressible talent. The album includes three compositions by Morgan’s mentor Benny Golson (“City Lights,” “Tempo De Waltz,” “Just By Myself”) as well as a stunning ballad performance of the standard “You’re Mine You” and the groovy closer “Kin Folk” by Gigi Gryce. — (via Label)

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The Tone Poet Audiophile Vinyl Reissue Series was born out of Blue Note President Don Was’ admiration for the exceptional audiophile Blue Note LP reissues presented by Music Matters. Was brought Joe Harley, a.k.a. the “Tone Poet,” on board to curate and supervise a series of reissues from the Blue Note family of labels.

Extreme attention to detail has been paid to getting these right in every conceivable way, from the jacket graphics and printing quality to superior LP mastering (direct from the master tapes) by Kevin Gray to superb 180g audiophile LP pressings by Record Technology Inc. Every aspect of these Tone Poet releases is done to the highest possible standard. It means that you will never find a superior version. This is IT.

This stereo Tone Poet Vinyl Edition was produced by Joe Harley, mastered by Kevin Gray (Cohearent Audio) from the original analog master tapes, pressed on 180g vinyl at Record Technology Inc. (RTI), and packaged in a deluxe gatefold tip-on jacket.

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Benny Golson's writing for this date uplifts it beyond most of the jam session sets of the period. Trumpeter Lee Morgan (then 19) is in excellent form, holding his own with his impressive sidemen (trombonist Curtis Fuller, George Coleman on tenor and alto, pianist Ray Bryant, bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Art Taylor). Highlights include "City Lights," "You're Mine You" and "Just By Myself." — (via All Music)

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Label: Blue Note
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo, Gatefold, 180 Gram
Released: 2026
Genre: Jazz
Style: Hard Bop

File under: Blue Note Tone Poet
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