Lee Morgan’s Complete Live at the Lighthouse finally unleashed!

Blue Note Records has at last published details of the forthcoming box set by Lee Morgan, cover star of Jazzwise 260 and subject of an in-depth feature by Stuart Nicholson in the same issue.

The late trumpet legend’s complete engagement (three nights, 12 set) at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach, California between 10 and 12 July 1970 is to be released in full – on 12LPs or eight CDs – for the first time on 30 July as The Complete Live At The Lighthouse, Hermosa Beach, California. The new box set catches one of the greatest trumpeters in jazz at the top of his game with a stellar band: Harold Mabern on piano, Jymie Merritt on bass, Mickey Roker on drums and Bennie Maupin on tenor, flute and bass clarinet.

The original Live At The Lighthouse album came out in 1971, with, an expanded CD version appearing in 1996. Now, fans can appreciate the entire run, complete with introductions, asides and announcements (such as Morgan telling the audience that Blue Note was recording the shows, so he wouldn’t be taking requests or playing older hits) – there’s more than four hours’ worth of unreleased music in all.

Overseen by producer Zev Feldman, the box also features a booklet featuring new interviews with Bennie Maupin and the last extensive interview with Jymie Merritt before his passing last year; essays by Jeffery McMillan (author of the definitive biography Delightfulee: The Life and Music of Lee Morgan) and Michael Cuscuna; statements from Jack DeJohnette, Wallace Roney, Nicholas Payton, Charles Tolliver, Eddie Henderson, Dave Douglas, and others; previously unpublished photos by Joel Franklin and Lee Tanner; as well as a statement from Morgan’s family.

The audio was mixed from Francis Wollf’s original ½” 4-track tapes by Steve Genewick at Capitol Studios with LP mastering by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio and 180g vinyl manufactured at Record Technology Inc (RTI) in Camarillo, California. CD mastering was done by Robert Vosgien at Capitol Studios.

Watch the ‘unboxing’ video of the complete package below or follow this link for a version of ‘the Beehive’ taken from the new box

The complete tracklist as follows (*previously unissued):

Friday, 10 July, 1970

Set 1

Introduction by Lee Morgan (2:06)

The Beehive (12:51) *

Introduction (0:20)

Something Like This (12:43)

Yunjana (14:28) *

Speedball (4:34) *

Set 2

I Remember Britt (16:45) *

Introduction (0:19)

Absolutions (21:55) *

Speedball (3:46) *

Set 3

Introduction (0:33)

Neophilia (18:52) *

Introduction (0:47)

416 East 10th Street (11:46)

The Sidewinder (12:49)

Speedball (0:53)

Set 4

Introduction (0:30)

Peyote (13:23) *

Speedball (11:55)

Saturday, 11 July, 1970

Set 1

Aon (13:47)

Introduction (0:21)

Yunjana (17:32) *

Set 2

Introduction (0:14)

Something Like This (11:46) *

Introduction (0:28)

I Remember Britt (14:25)

Introduction (0:47)

The Beehive (15:23) *

Speedball (7:00) *

Set 3

Neophilia (19:18) *

Nommo (17:44)

Set 4

Peyote (11:24) *

Absolutions (22:28)