Lafayette Escadrille (1958)

Listening to Lee Morgan blow his molten solo on “A Night In Tunisia,” the opening track of The Cooker, it’s hard to fathom that he was only 19 years old at the time. Recorded just 2 weeks after Morgan’s dazzling performance on John Coltrane’s masterpiece Blue Train in September 1957, The Cooker was in fact Morgan’s 5th Blue Note album as a leader. Bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Philly Joe Jones (both of whom also played on Blue Train) are joined by baritone saxophone master Pepper Adams and the great Bobby Timmons on piano on this superbly swinging session.

In the grand tradition of jazz piano trio records, Lafayette Harris returns to the Van Gelder studios for this release covering a wide spectrum of tunes by composers ranging from Hoagy Carmichael to Stevie Wonder. Harris' sympathies have always been all-inclusive, developed during his stints with Max Roach, Ernestine Anderson and others. His playing keeps one foot rooted in the rich history of jazz piano and the other is knee-deep in contemporary and modern jazz resulting in an album of memorable renditions with subtle colors and elegant nuances. You need a first-rate rhythm section for a trio recording and bassist Kenny Washington and drummer Lewis Nash bring the insight that only their decades of experience can give. The album also boasts the participation of saxophonist Houston Person, this time in the producer's chair. If tasteful, effortless piano playing is to your liking, then you will certainly find great pleasure in the joy, humor and exuberance of Lafayette Harris Jr.

In a narrative both panoramic and intimate, Tom Chaffin captures the four-decade friendship of Thomas Jefferson and the Marquis de Lafayette.

The adventurous trombonist and composer Roswell Rudd made a decided shift in direction on his first RareNoise Records release as a leader by embracing jazz standards he has loved and played throughout his long and illustrious career. Accompanied by the brilliant pianist Lafayette Harris, upright bass virtuoso Ken Filiano and soulful vocal sensation Fay Victor, the 81 year old jazz master delivers with rare potency and poignancy on the aptly titled "Embrace".