Take Twelve

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Take Twelve album cover
Album Information
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Total Tracks: 7   Total Length: 48:12

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Morgan a composer and performer

rene.leemans

The years 1958 to 1961 Morgan was taken up mostly with Art Blakey's & Jazz Messengers duties, but also fitted in sessions for Ernie Henry (as), Curtis Fuller (tb) and fellow-messenger Wayne Shorter (ts). This album it's one of the first places where one can assess Morgan the composer. It also offers evidence that he was developing as a performer as well, ironically by turning back to the work of older figures like Rex Stewart and Roy Eldridge. All tracks come pretty much from the basic-lode: driven, blues-inflected themes with a brisk bounce. So, strongly recommended...

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Sounds like a Blue Note

starchild

In January 1962 Lee Morgan returned from an enforced sabbatical as a more thoughtful and mature player, as evidenced by this often overlooked session. Cooling his natural fire and thus slowing the tempo produced some lovely innovative jazz, highlighted by his own composition 'A Waltz for Fran', a tune which he would reprise on two further occasions, sharing front line duties with Jackie McLean and Wayne Shorter respectively, and yet the original featuring Clifford Jordan would remain the definitive version. Supported by a rhythm section enlisting the immeasurable talents of Barry Harris, Bob cranshaw and Louis Hayes makes for some wonderful music. Throughout the next two years Morgan was at the apex of his illustrious career, recording on such classics as Hank Mobleys 'No Room for Squares' Grachan moncurs 'Evolution' and his own 'Search for the New Land'. 'Take Twelve' is where his renaissance began - easily one of Lee Morgan's greatest albums.

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mesmerizing jams

ABC123

mesmerizing jam session; crystal clear sound; wide stereo typical of that era; nice wide frequncy range of sound; quick pace, but relaxing jams that go places

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They Say All Music Guide

Take Twelve was trumpeter Lee Morgan’s only recording during an off-period that lasted from mid-1961 to late 1963. Morgan (who sounds in fine form) leads a quintet with tenor saxophonist Clifford Jordan, pianist Barry Harris, bassist Bob Cranshaw and drummer Louis Hayes through four of his originals, Jordan’s “Little Spain,” and the title cut, an Elmo Hope composition. The superior material uplifts the set from being a mere “blowing” date but it generally has the spontaneity of a jam session. It’s one of Lee Morgan’s lesser-known dates. [Originally released in 1962, Take Twelve was reissued on CD in 2006, and includes an alternate take of "Second's Best."] – Scott Yanow

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