Lee Morgan – The Cooker (2020 Blue Note Tone Poet Vinyl LP)

Originally recorded in 1957 and beautifully reissued here as part of the Blue Note Tone Poet Series, The Cooker captures Lee Morgan in full fire and flight. Just 19 at the time, Morgan leads a small group of heavyweights — Pepper Adams on baritone sax, Bobby Timmons on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and “Philly” Joe Jones on drums — through a session that defines the energy and precision of hard bop.

The opener, A Night in Tunisia, is pure voltage: Morgan’s trumpet sharp and fearless against Adams’ muscular baritone lines. Heavy Dipper swings hard but never loses control, while Just One of Those Things lets Timmons stretch with an unhurried, bluesy grace. The B-side closes with New-Ma, a Morgan original that brims with confidence — fast, clever, and deeply melodic.

Recorded by Rudy Van Gelder and remastered from the original analog tapes, this 180-gram Tone Poet pressing gives the music new depth: crisp horns, deep bass resonance, and the tactile warmth Blue Note is famous for. The Stoughton tip-on gatefold sleeve and session photos complete a reissue worthy of the label’s legacy.

For collectors and newcomers alike, The Cooker is one of those records that justifies the fuss around the Blue Note Tone Poet Series — immaculate presentation, timeless sound, and Morgan burning bright before his twenties had even begun.