The Sidewinder

Joe Henderson (tenor sax), Lee Morgan (trumpet), Barry Harris (piano), Bob Cranshaw (bass) and Billy Higgins (drums). From the album The Sidewinder (1964).

This energy-filled album has been the best seller on the Blue Note label and the first theme, which gives title to the album, appeared in advertising and television programs. Also helped to set up the sounds of boogaloo and soul jazz with its rhythm and blues influence and Latin nuance, while the rest of the themes belong to the pure hard bop style. All the tracks were composed by Morgan, are deeply rooted in the blues and are ahead of their time.

Especially, Joe Henderson made a decisive contribution to the album’s surprising success, in particular in “Totem Pole”, where his solo shows his modern and unique character. Unlike the minimalist and clean sound of Miles Davis or the adventurous brain current of John Coltrane, Morgan’s characteristic sound is cheerful, optimistic and pleasant. In addition, Barry Harris, Bob Cranshaw and Billy Higgins make up a fantastic rhythm section and are in top form. Morgan, Henderson and Harris really push their instruments to the limit on the last theme and the result is amazing.

The introduction is given by the rhythm section and then Henderson and Morgan expose the theme at medium tempo. It has a lively and catchy melody that makes you move your feet and head. Morgan presents a solo moderated and easy to listen to. His phrases flow as if they were falling down a slide, although he does not resist adding some more daring ones. He is followed by Henderson dynamically playing a colorful and lyrical speech that accelerates and complicates with time. Next Harris enters with a measured and paused melodic line using also chords. He articulates his notes exquisitely giving them a coherent sense while Henderson and Lee make a sound matress underneath. Afterwards, Cranshaw arrives with very well selected and timely sentences before the group re-exposes the theme and Cranshaw and Higgins are left alone fading out.