August 20, 2021
Blue Note Records has released Lee Morgan The Complete Live at the Lighthouse, an expansive collection that presents for the very first time all 12 sets of music the legendary trumpeter’s quintet with saxophonist Bennie Maupin, pianist Harold Mabern, bassist Jymie Merritt, and drummer Mickey Roker recorded during their historic engagement at The Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach, California from July 10-12, 1970. Originally released 50 years ago in 1971 as a 2-LP set, and later expanded to a 3-CD set in 1996, this definitive edition of Morgan’s only live album produced by Zev Feldman and David Weiss is available as an 8-CD set and a limited-edition 12-LP all-analog 180g vinyl set that encompasses 33 performances including more than 4 hours of previously unreleased music that lets the listener relive the experience of being in the club for every exhilarating moment.
Both physical formats are accompanied by an enlightening booklet featuring new interviews with Bennie Maupin and the last extensive interview with Jymie Merritt before his passing last year; essays by Jeffery McMillan (author or Delightfulee: The Life and Music of Lee Morgan) and Michael Cuscuna; statements from Jack DeJohnette, Wallace Roney, Nicholas Payton, Charles Tolliver, Eddie Henderson, Dave Douglas, and others; previously unpublished photos by Joel Franklin and Lee Tanner; as well as a statement from Morgan’s family. The audio was mixed from the original ½” 4-track tapes by Steve Genewick at Capitol Studios with LP mastering by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio and 180g vinyl manufactured at Record Technology Inc. (RTI) in Camarillo, California. CD mastering was done by Robert Vosgien at Capitol Studios.
Bennie Maupin, saxophonist
“Right from the beginning, we developed such a heart-to-heart connection with each other. I think that’s really reflected in what we did. It was just about being in the moment and capturing the moment, and we did that.”
Jymie Merritt, bassist
“In a sense, it is holy music. And that was the thing I felt throughout the performances at The Lighthouse, this was totally uncompromised music in terms of the way it went down.”
Don Was, President, Blue Note Records
“’Live at the Lighthouse’ probably gives us the clearest picture of where Lee Morgan was headed and, as such, is a record of monumental importance.”
Zev Feldman, producer
“‘Live at the Lighthouse’ is an all-time desert island disc for me and to be ushering in a complete edition of this magnitude—each set, night-by-night just like if you were at the club witnessing it live—is nothing short of a dream come true. This was one of the very first projects I wanted to pursue when I came to Blue Note. I had prior knowledge that there was 4-plus hours of unissued material sitting on the shelves, but I didn’t realize how great it was until hearing it all. Just as these musicians worked to create a recording that would stand the test of time, we made every effort to create a package that would serve that legacy.”
PERSONNEL:
Lee Morgan – trumpet, flugelhorn
Bennie Maupin – tenor saxophone, flute, bass clarinet
Harold Mabern – piano
Jymie Merritt – Ampeg bass
Mickey Roker – drums
Jack DeJohnette – drums (on “Speedball” from Friday, July 10, Set 4)
Original recordings produced by Francis Wolff
TRACK LISTING:
*previously unissued
Friday, July 10, 1970
Set 1
Introduction by Lee Morgan (2:06)
The Beehive (12:51) *
Introduction (0:20)
Something Like This (12:43)
Yunjana (14:28) *
Speedball (4:34) *
Set 2
I Remember Britt (16:45) *
Introduction (0:19)
Absolutions (21:55) *
Speedball (3:46) *
Set 3
Introduction (0:33)
Neophilia (18:52) *
Introduction (0:47)
416 East 10th Street (11:46)
The Sidewinder (12:49)
Speedball (0:53)
Set 4
Introduction (0:30)
Peyote (13:23) *
Speedball (11:55)
Saturday, July 11, 1970
Set 1
Aon (13:47)
Introduction (0:21)
Yunjana (17:32) *
Set 2
Introduction (0:14)
Something Like This (11:46) *
Introduction (0:28)
I Remember Britt (14:25)
Introduction (0:47)
The Beehive (15:23) *
Speedball (7:00) *
Set 3
Neophilia (19:18) *
Nommo (17:44)
Set 4
Peyote (11:24)
Absolutions (22:28)
Sunday, July 12, 1970
Set 1
Introduction (1:37)
Something Like This (15:39) *
Introduction (0:29)
Yunjana (16:07)
Set 2
I Remember Britt (16:19) *
Absolutions (19:35) *
Speedball (0:27)
Set 3
Introduction (1:19)
Neophilia (18:59)
Introduction (0:46)
The Beehive (15:11)
Speedball (1:59)
Set 4
Peyote (9:27) *
Nommo (19:19) *
