Track Listing

1. Search For The New Land
2. Joker
3. Mr Kenyatta
4. Melancholee
5. Morgan The Pirate

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #42294 in Music
• Released on: 2003-09-08
• Number of discs: 1

CD Description
This release is something of a departure for the bold trumpet stylist. After the Latin-tinged dance-floor jams of THE SIDEWINDER (released about six months prior to this disc), Morgan turns somewhat reflective. The music is quieter, with agood deal of structural space and restrained, almost expressionistic playing. The title track opens the album and evokes a mood of poignancy and careful balance, like a Japanese painting. Even the more up-tempo numbers like "The Joker" and"Mr. Kenyatta" are relaxed and thoughtful, the richly textured passages unfolding in a way that seems both organic and tightly disciplined.
Morgan's playing maintains its articulate brightness, but his notes and phrases are carefully shaded. This is matched by Wayne Shorter's sax work (also simultaneously edgy and lyrical), Grant Green's glowing guitar and Herbie Hancock's atmospheric contributions. Lee should also be recognised as a significant composer, since all the tracks here, with their floating themes and protean solo sections, are from his pen. SEARCH FOR THE NEW LAND live up to its title, finding a high ground of intelligent, evocative work and outstanding playing.

Customer Reviews

Another side of Lee Morgan.
This is not one of Lee Morgan's best known records but it is one of hisbest. Such was the commercial success of 'The Sidewinder' that Blue Notewanted more of the same, and this set, the next chronologically, wasshelved for nearly two years, while a 'Sidewinder sequel' entitled 'TheRumproller' was hurried through to capitilise on the former's success withanother danceable funky opener to grab commercial notoriety.Unfortunately, although 'The Rumproller' is quite good, it was toocontrived to ever be in the same league as its predecessor, In some ways,Morgan was always plagued by 'The Sidewinders' success and the desire torepeat it in years to come.
'Search For The New land' on the other handwas a departure for Morgan, and all the more refreshing for it. The albumsees him expanding his repetoire in terms of both writing and soloingbeyond the big brash catchy hard bop soloing he was known for on his bestwork with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers and 'The Sidewinder' What it lacksin immediacy and excitement, is made up for in more creative and variedmaterial and great musicianship.
Morgan clearly benefitted also herefrom a great line up supporting him. The sound is immediately differentfrom previous recordings, most obviously because of the inclusion of aguitarist in Grant Green, who excels throughout; while the combination ofthe more eclectic Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock avoids any hint of hardbop cliche or predictibilty.
The album is dominated by the 15 and a half minute opening title track,an ambitious extended composition which works very convincingly. The moodis calmer and more pastoral than much of his previous work, and it is bothintroduced and interspersed between solos with a repeated wistful, almostdreamy theme. Each soloist is outstanding, and at no point does it feellike the track has gone on too long; and the repeated theme gives thewhole a sense of circularity and completeness.
The remaining fourtracks are more familiar sounding but there is enough creative soloing onshow that the whole album has a sense of originality about it. 'MrKenyatta' is the standout of the four but the whole album is of a highstandard.
Morgan's own playing is terrific; while he displays his usualdexterity he also shows a subtler touch and greater command of mood andtexture than he had displayed before.
For all fans of Lee Morgan, 60s jazz or those who need persuading that hewas capable of more than full bloodied steaming hard bop, this is anessential recording.

New Land - amazing voyage of discovery
"Sidewinder" may be Morgan's most "popular" hit record but New Land must be his finest moment. More thoughtful in tone than its predecessor but superior in terms of composition, arrangement and even, I think, playing. The title track is a masterpiece in jazz writing for sextet, the moods changing throughout to create a tone poem (almost Zawinul-esque) full of curiosity, rapture, excitement. The solos by Morgan, Shorter and Hancock are magnificent between restatements of the beautiful main theme. I can listen to this 13 minute voyage over and over again. The other tracks are uniformly superb with Morgan and Shorter a perfect pairing, locking horns of memorable opening/closing themes on more typical Morgan material like Joker, the playful and exuberant Morgan the Pirate, and the moody Melancholee. Every performer shines and the solos are impeccable. Grant Green's guitar is used effectively, Workman's bass is solid and warm as ever and Higgins stick work floats deftly and with precision. The collection shows what a strong composer Morgan was and I can hear his influence on Shorter's later work. Jazz Top Ten material - no question.

A jazz gem!
10 out of 10 for this one!
Lee Morgan was truly one of the greatest Jazz artist of all time.
That's a bold statement to make when you realise how deep the ocean is when it comes to jazz legends of the past.

My jazz collection spans from Charlie Parker, Chet Baker, Miles, Coltrane to contemporary jazz.

Lee Morgan had a very distinctive style that combined the power and delivery of Louis Armstrong with the finesse and subtle expression of Miles Davies.
Just listen to the way he bends his notes at it will bring a smile to your face.

Search For The New Land, expresses pain, anxiety and frustration with hope during a period of darkness in America's history during the civil rights movement of the 60's.
Wayne Shorter, Grant Green and Herbie Hancock step up to the plate to complete this masterpiece. These guys, all jazz greats in their own right, were on the top of the game and it shows.

As mentioned by the other reviewers, Lee Morgan has had success with Sidewinder, which is a great album. However, this one is better - it's one of my favourite album's because of demonstrates Lee's talents as a composer, a trumpet player and a band leader.

Lee Morgan had a sense of humour, as he always entitled an album track as a word-play on his name.

Buy it, You'll love it!