On January 26, 1972, Lee Morgan performed on PBS Soul! for the last time he was ever filmed. Twenty-four days later, he was shot dead between sets at a New York jazz club. He was 33.
The ensemble that night included:
Billy Harper — tenor sax. With his natural, which was what we called a short cut afro and Black Panther garb of black turtleneck, black leather jacket and black pants.
Jymie Merritt — bass. He’s sporting an afro too. Not knowing what to wear deciding to let Lee dress him cause he didn’t think he had any clothes that would be suitable for the filming of this mighty set that night.
Harold Mabern — piano. Dressed like and looking like anybody’s unassuming uncle just ticklin them keys.
Freddie Waits — drums. The youngest of the group maybe? With full beard, afro and dressed with the uptodate fashion sense of young men of the times. I ought to know cause I was one of them.
Lee Morgan — flugelhorn. Custom comfort suit with no arms for leisure. Hair slicked with a conk or what we called a process. He hadn’t gotten with the natural black hair look the young black folks were wearing yet. He still was sportin that Horace Silver hairdo look.
(Almost) Everyone of you here on jfa knows more about jazz than I may ever know. So for some reason the youtube algorithm sent me this and I instantly realized what I had very little knowledge about, Lee Morgan. And this live color version of The Last Time Lee Morgan Was Ever Filmed (1972) knocked my (compression) socks off. This cat and most importantly the entire ensemble can play.
I had no idea he passed in 1972. The only knowledge I had of him is a mention of him from a post here on jfa. Lee Morgan (Usa, 1964) - Search for the New Land (Full)