Frank Morgan's "Mood Indigo" is a treasure. Simple as that. This is the altoist's eighth record in the past four years after three lost decades - more about that in a moment - and it's probably his best.
"Mood Indigo" marks Morgan's debut with the Antilles/Island Records label after several years with Contemporary. The switch of recording companies is not the only change, as Morgan displays his ability to play something other than be-bop, his legacy 35 years ago when he was considered the heir to Charlie Parker.That doesn't suggest, though, that uptempo is absent. John Coltrane's "Bessie's Blues" really sails, and trumpeter Wynton Marsalis has to sprint to keep up with Morgan. Marsalis, who wasn't born the first two decades Morgan was in prison, attended Morgan's 1986 appearance at the Vanguard - Frank's first-ever visit to New York - and mutual admiration grew, says Marsalis. "What comes out of his horn is soulful, full of fire and timeless." In addition to "Bessie's Blues," Marsalis joins Morgan, Ronnie Mathews (piano), Buster Williams (bass) and drummer Al Foster on Ellington's title piece, which Morgan learned at the recording date. " `Mood Indigo' was a tune I always wanted to do," he says.
Another Ellington creation, "In a Sentimental Mood," is handled with care in a duet with the 56-year-old Morgan and pianist George Cables, who also combine for memorable treatment of Jimmy Van Heusen's "Polka Dots and Moonbeams."
"Mood Indigo" ends with a half-minute thanks "for listening and saving my life."
A guitarist for the Ink Spots and a 14-year-old girl were Frank Morgan's parents, and he was moved between maternal grandmother and great-grandmother in his early years, and then back to his father in Los Angeles.
Morgan was still in high school when he played in a club house band, backing the likes of Billie Holiday and Josephine Baker. In 1948, at age 15, he auditioned for Duke Ellington, who was so impressed he wanted Morgan to replace the legendary Johnny Hodges, who was leaving the band. Too young for the road, though.
Two years later, Morgan began his trip to hell. His companions were heroin, cocaine and anything else that was around. As the teenager's addiction grew, he turned to burglary, auto theft and forgery. It was his participation in a forgery ring that passed $600,000 in bad checks that earned him a trip in 1962 to California's San Quentin. There he was treated by inmates like a superstar and he had no trouble feeding his drug habit inside the walls. After all, he and fellow altoist Art Pepper were the headliners for the famous San Quentin band, which drew outsiders from the Bay Area at $7.50 a pop.
Morgan, with help from long-time companion Rosalinda Kolb, was finally straight and released in April 1985. Later that year he recorded "Easy Living" for Contemporary/Fantasy, and was it just a coincidence that the first cut is "Manha de Carnaval," also known as "A Day in the Life of a Fool"? Pianist Cedar Walton heads a rhythm section with bassist Tony Dumas and Billy Higgins on drums.
My Morgan collection includes "Lament" (1986), which features charts by Lee Morgan, Miles, Wayne Shorter and the title piece by J.J. Johnson.
The next year Contemporary/Fantasy released "Be Bop Lives," recorded live at the Village Vanguard. Johnny Coles on flugelhorn joins Cedar Walton, Buster Williams and Billy Higgins. Yep, there's another Ellington tune, this time, "Come Sunday."
"Yardbird Suite," an obvious tribute to Parker (Contemporary), was released in 1988, and it's a dandy. With Mulgrew Miller on piano, Ron Carter on bass and drummer Al Foster, how could it miss?
The quartet hums with tunes Parker enjoyed, like Dizzy's "Night in Tunisia" and "Star Eyes," but especially successful is Hoagy Carmichael's "Skylark," which Parker never recorded.
And now there is "Mood Indigo."
During his lengthy incarceration, Frank Morgan was a forgotten man. A number of music folks assumed he was dead. But he is very much here, and Morgan realizes he is lucky. "I'm very grateful just to be alive, and extremely grateful just to be accepted," he says.