Lee Morgan – The Sixth Sense (Tone Poet Vinyl Series)

Lee Morgan’s prolific creative output throughout the late-1960s was staggering by any measure, whether quality or quantity. Following his hit album The Sidewinder the trumpeter recorded 15 Blue Note sessions between 1964-68 that continued to push hard bop into the realm of post-bop. Recorded in November 1967, The Sixth Sense is a particularly evocative effort featuring Morgan in a sextet that bristled with vitality including Jackie McLean on alto saxophone, Frank Mitchell on tenor saxophone, Cedar Walton on piano, Victor Sproles on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums. The opening title track sets the stage with percolating rhythms and a sinuous melody while the groovy “Psychedelic” delivers Morgan’s signature boogaloo stylings. The set also includes Walton’s declarative “Afreaka” and closes with Cal Massey’s plaintive ballad “The Cry Of My People.”

Blue Note Tone Poet Series

The Tone Poet Audiophile Vinyl Reissue Series was born out of Blue Note President Don Was’ admiration for the exceptional audiophile Blue Note LP reissues presented by Music Matters. Was brought Joe Harley, a.k.a. the “Tone Poet,” on board to curate and supervise a series of reissues from the Blue Note family of labels.

Extreme attention to detail has been paid to getting these right in every conceivable way, from the jacket graphics and printing quality to superior LP mastering (direct from the master tapes) by Kevin Gray to superb 180g audiophile LP pressings by Record Technology Inc. Every aspect of these Tone Poet releases is done to the highest possible standard. It means that you will never find a superior version. This is IT.

This stereo Tone Poet Vinyl Edition was produced by Joe Harley, mastered by Kevin Gray (Cohearent Audio) from the original analog master tapes, pressed on 180g vinyl at Record Technology Inc. (RTI), and packaged in a deluxe tip-on gatefold jacket.

Tracklist:

A1 The Sixth Sense
A2 Short Count
A3 Psychedelic
B1 Afreaka
B2 Anti Climax
B3 The Cry Of My People