Organist Charles Earland: "Intensity" with Lee Morgan and Hubert Laws.

Charles Earland was one of the leading Jazzmasters of the mighty Hammond Organ and he organized and arranged this great set with a full brass section and some superb soloists to augment this date. The soloists aside from Earland himself were tenor saxophonist Billy Harper, flutist Hubert Laws and most importantly the master trumpeter Lee Morgan. Sadly this was Lee Morgan's last date as he was shot and killed two days after this recording by his estranged partner. He was just 33. Morgan shines on this date and it makes his passing that much sadder. The music is superb and very much a cut above the usual Hammond Organ date. The powerhouse rhythm section has of course Earland's pulsating bass lines (he wasn't called "The Mighty Burner" for nothing) coupled with the funky drumming of Billy Cobham and the congas of Sonny Morgan (no relation to Lee). The album is called "Intensity" yet it is very accessible and musical. Check it out tonight! Following the Earland Jazz Feature will be in honor of Canada's 150th Birthday, Oscar Peterson's magnificent "Canadiana Suite" with Oscar, bassist Ray Brown and drummer Ed Thigpen. This 8 movement suite will be heard in it's entirety. Tune in!