Claudio Roditi

Lee Morgan was only 33 when an angry girlfriend shot and killed him in 1972, but during his relatively short life, he had a majorly strong influence on hard bop trumpet playing. One of the many trumpeters he influenced was Claudio Roditi, who pays tribute to the ill-fated improviser on this excellent CD. But Free Wheelin': The Music of Lee Morgan not only reminds us how prolific a composer Morgan was -- it also reminds us how recognizable a player Roditi is. When the Rio de Janeiro native interprets Morgan classics that range from "Speedball" and "The Sidewinder" to "Ceora," "Trapped," and "Yes I Can, No You Can't," he shows his reverence for Morgan's legacy without sounding like anyone but himself. Besides, Morgan isn't Roditi's only big influence -- his fat, attractive tone has also been influenced by Clifford Brown, Kenny Dorham, Freddie Hubbard, Dizzy Gillespie, and Kenny Dorham, among others. Free Wheelin' isn't the work of an innovator, but it's definitely the work of an expressive improviser who hard bop enthusiasts should make a point of hearing. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide