Lee Morgan came to prominence in his late teens, playing in Dizzy Gillespie’s Big Band, and recording on John Coltrane‘s Blue Train album in 1957.  He became a key musician with Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers and was featured on many of their albums including Moanin’, which is one of the band’s best-known recordings. 

Morgan left that band to pursue a solo career, and his song The Sidewinder became a surprise crossover hit on the pop and R&B charts in 1964. Following this, the famous Blue Note record label encouraged its other artists to emulate the tune’s “boogaloo” beat. Morgan continued to work prolifically as both a leader, and a sideman with the likes of Hank Mobley and Wayne Shorter, becoming a cornerstone of the Blue Note label.

Sam Massey has performed with top-class musicians from across the UK, including the legendary Devon based bandleader Mike Westbrook and Radio 2 favourite Clare Teal. As a performer and composer, he and his music have been broadcast on numerous BBC, Jazz FM and RAI (Italy) programmes, and is found on critically acclaimed albums by artists such as American soul singer PP Arnold and ska band The Simmertones.

Performing with ensembles across the UK & Europe, Sam has performed to sell-out crowds at the Welsh Millennium Centre, Kings Place Hall One, Gaz Arte (Athens) and St Ives Jazz Club. His own jazz projects include a 7-piece ensemble featuring his own compositions and arrangements, and a six-piece crossover wind ensemble ‘Superlocrian’.

The audience can expect a wide variety of enjoyable tunes ranging from the funky to the lyrical, all reflecting the incredible talent of the great Lee Morgan.