Lee Morgan: The Sidewinder | Vinyl LP, Blue Note

Trumpeter Lee Morgan brought together jazz elements of blues, gospel and funk in a style ideally suited to the era which capitalized on bebop's advances. This excellent 1964 Blue Note album is full of good compositions, and the catchy, off-beat title-track itself is a small masterpiece - deservedly a popular hit, and redolent of '60s "black pride" sound.

Capturing Morgan at his sassiest, 'The Sidewinder' changed the way Blue Note recorded its artists, its commercial success encouraging the company to throw in an almost obligatory funky lead-off track for many subsequent releases. The jazz critics were disparaging at the time but the record remains one of the most enjoyable mid-1960s albums. Morgan cooks throughout, instrumentally and compositionally, and his band, featuring the elegant Barry Harris, is in winning form. It's a disc worth listening to for the tracks less talked about too, like 'Hocus Pocus' and 'Boy, What A Night'.