Morgan's Confident Step Into His Own Sound
Volume 3 finds Lee Morgan settling into his power with harder edges and sharper focus.
By the time Lee Morgan recorded Volume 3 (1959), he'd already proven himself as a trumpeter with something to say. This isn't him finding his voice—it's him getting comfortable in it, which turns out to be a different thing entirely. The album has a confidence that cuts through everything: the tempos are brisk, the solos are direct, and there's no wasted space. Morgan plays like he knows exactly what he wants to express and he's going to say it in the fewest notes possible.
What makes this distinct from his other Blue Note work around this time is the sharpness of the attack. Morgan's tone can range from pretty to aggressive, and here he leans into the aggressive side more often. The rhythm section locks in tight behind him, pushing the tempos and creating real momentum. This isn't the dreamy, introspective Morgan—this is the player who's impatient with ballads and more interested in finding interesting angles on harder material. Tracks hit like he's proving something, which keeps the whole session energized. It's the sound of a musician in his twenties who's already thinking like a bandleader about what works and what doesn't.
If you're exploring Morgan's early catalog, Volume 3 (1959) sits nicely after his debut as a sign of his growing authority. It's not his definitive statement—that would come later—but it's essential if you want to understand how he went from promising young player to one of jazz's most consistently inventive trumpeters. This is him still hungry, still proving his point.
Who's playing
Paul Chambersdouble bass
Wynton Kellypiano
Benny Golsontenor saxophone
Gigi Grycealto saxophone, flute
Lee Morgantrumpet
Charlie Persipdrums
Where next?
More by Lee Morgan
All 12 albums →
The musicians on this record
Their own records, close in time
