Brotherlee Love

Subtitled Celebrating Lee Morgan, trumpeter Terell Stafford's quintet does just that on Brotherlee Love's nine tunes. All but two were composed by the brilliant Morgan, who got his first trumpet at 13 and five years later was in Dizzy Gillespie's band before joining Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. Morgan recorded 25 albums before being murdered at the age of 33, and his compositions have been recorded dozens of times. Here, Stafford teams up with saxophonist Tim Warfield, pianist Bruce Barth, bassist Peter Washington and drummer Dana Hall. Things get underway in a hurry with the opener, Morgan's uptempo “Hocus Pocus,” which reveals the group to be ready for anything. They all slow down on the ballad “Candy” and Morgan's “Carolyn,” both real treats with luxurious solos by Stafford, Barth and Washington. Warfield sits those two out but really romps with the others on Morgan's “Stop Start” and “Speedball.” Stafford's relaxed “Favor” is meant to give thanks, he explained, “to have the gift to make this record and be able to touch people with the music.” Although Stafford doesn't have Morgan's warm, vibrant tone, his enthusiasm is very much in evidence.