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Review 1
This fun-lovin' date scored a surprise hit for Morgan as the title track cracked into Billboard's Top 100. In fact, any of the five tunes might have made the wiggle circuit with their plethora of hooks and Latin edginess. They all have a mighty jump to them - Lee was one of the sons of Silver! Hi yo, Horace! Joe Henderson's tenor sax shares the front line with his customary good-natured thoughtfulness and focused drive; Joe's driving solo on the popping waltz "Gary's Notebook" sets up Lee's bending, swirling note-pad and Barry Harris' playing around brilliantly with jumping octaves. There's no easement whatsoever in "Boy! What A Night" - an up-tempo, churchy 12/8 with a declamatory head - as Lee follows Joe in high-rolling solos as Billy Higgins raps out kicking off-beats behind them. Check Barry's fills on the out-chorus and praise the Lord! The snappy bopper "Hocus Pocus" is the sole non-Latin-tinged track and it kicks butt anyway; the horns dipsy-doodle with Smiling Billy's traps on the penultimate chorus. Two 10-minute takes of "Totem Pole" present the horns in tight harmony, then writhing DNA coils around each other on the half-time straight-eight bridge, soloing broad and handsome, and wrapping up a decidedly bright-eyed session  |
Players
Joe Henderson,Barry Harris,Bob Cranshaw,Billy Higgins |
Tracks
1. Sidewinder, The
2. Totem Pole
3. Gary's Notebook
4. Boy, What A Night
5. Hocus-Pocus
6. Totem Pole - (bonus track, alternate take) |
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