Taped for the Vee Jay label in 1959/60 – that is between such Blue Note classics as Candy and The Sidewinder – the four records heard here are arguably the last entries in the chapter of ‘early Morgan.’

By late 1959, the trumpeter had both earned his spurs with Gillespie and Blakey, and the right to be considered the heir to the late Clifford Brown. Where he was to take his talents next can be felt in this quartet of interlinked sessions, two of which he headlined himself (Here’s Lee Morgan, Expoobident) and the balance of which are headed by Wynton Kelly (Kelly Great) and an all-star cast co-led by Frank Strozier and Wayne Shorter (The Young Lions).

As expected there’s plenty of Messenger-style bluesy brashness (Blakey himself is at the skins on the trumpeter’s own sets) but hearing the young Morgan work his way through Shorter’s increasingly personal compositions (‘Running Brook’, ‘Seeds of Sin’, ‘Fire’ etc.) reveals him developing a far subtler mode of delivery. His ear for a catchy back beat - hints of later triumphs - can also be heard on things like ‘Expoobident’ and ‘Wrinkles’.

The supporting cast on these dates reads like Hard Bop Heaven – Jordan, Kelly, Timmons, Philly Joe – but there’s also room for ringers like the edgy Cannonball-meets-the future alto of Strozier. Besides the leader though, the star is Shorter whose very first entry on the earliest item included here – Kelly’s blues ‘Wrinkles’ (his debut recording) – tells you you’re in the presence of someone with his own way of hearing things.

In sum, a beautiful collection of music, well-packaged and with good sound. If you only know Morgan from his Blue Note albums, please do make this your next port of call.