Bob Cranshaw Remembers Lee Morgan and "The Sidewinder"

Bassist Bob Cranshaw played on Lee Morgan's immortal "The Sidewinder." Here, he remembers the session, and offers his thoughts on the great trumpeter, who died tragically at the age of 33.

Some of his best-known performances include Lee Morgan's The Sidewinder and Grant Green's Idle Moments. Cranshaw also served as the sole session bassist to Sesame Street and The Electric Company songwriter and composer Joe Raposo, and played bass guitar on all songs, tracks, buttons and cues recorded by The Children's Television Workshop during Raposo's tenure.

Although he lacks the name recognition of other bassists, Cranshaw has performed and recorded with a wide range of leading jazz artists, including Ella Fitzgerald, Dexter Gordon, Grant Green, Coleman Hawkins, Jimmy Heath, Joe Henderson, Johnny Hodges, Freddie Hubbard, Bobby Hutcherson, J. J. Johnson, Jackie McLean, Hank Mobley, Thelonious Monk, James Moody, Lee Morgan, Wes Montgomery, Oscar Peterson, Buddy Rich, George Shearing, Wayne Shorter, Horace Silver, Shirley Scott, Stanley Turrentine, McCoy Tyner, Sonny Rollins, George Benson, and Joe Williams.

Along with Wes Montgomery's brother Monk, Cranshaw was among the early jazz bassists to trade his upright bass for an electric bass. Cranshaw was criticized for this by jazz purists, although he was forced to switch by a back injury incurred in a serious auto accident.

Throughout his long and distinguished career he has also performed on hundreds of television shows and film and television scores. He appears on The Blue Note Story, a 90-minute documentary of the famed jazz label.

Cranshaw was also a founding member of the short-lived MJT +3 (Modern Jazz Two) that included Frank Strozier on alto saxophone, Harold Mabern on piano, Willie Thomas on trumpet, and Walter Perkins on drums. The Chicago-based group produced several albums, a number for Vee Jay Records. Another vintage Cranshaw jam, 1964's Blue Flames, featuring Shirley Scott, Stanley Turrentine and Otis Finch, was recorded for Prestige Records. Cranshaw also played live shows for tap dancer Maurice Hines, along with friend and drummer Paul Goldberg.

His career spans the heyday of Blue Note Records to his recent involvement with the Musicians Union. He is perhaps best known for his long association with Sonny Rollins. Cranshaw has been in Rollins's working band on and off for almost five decades, starting with the 1962 album The Bridge.

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[CoreaKixx420]

This is some of the most spectacular playing I have ever heard. Thank you so much!!!! I am nearly speechless!!!!!!!!

[JazzVideoGuy]

@CoreaKixx420 I have been listening to this music since I was fourteen and it never fails to amaze me!

[MrDavearama]

After years being a Coltrane & Miles fan, I am starting to realize that Lee Morgan belongs right up there on that same mountain. The guy was a Hipster saint.

[JazzVideoGuy]

@MrDavearama Amen!

[Palazueloss]

Santo cielo! Lee Morgan es colosal!

[aeffron]

this was freaking awesome, if you ever do a part II, i have 40 more questions about the sidewinder session for bob

[CoreaKixx420]

@JazzVideoGuy Hi, pal!!!! I began at 19, in the late '70's...but it wasn't until about a dozen years ago listening to the great Ed Love, broadcasting jazz out of Wayne State Univ. in Detroit, that I first heard Lee Morgan. Ed played alot of this guy. WOW!!!! Thanx again my friend!!!!

[magicreader1]

@ZQUIDGE Moanin'

[mussman717word]

I knew this song was born in the bathroom, but I never knew that silence was because of a splice. I always just figure it was part of Lee's orchestration. Frankly, I'm glad Bob forgot the pick-up, because I really dig the 'false stop,' and I have since the first time I'd heard it.

[ColonelTheSlav]

@ZQUIDGE It's called Moanin' and the group that played with him was called Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers.

[Gilligan346]

@ZQUIDGE Moanin

[ZQUIDGE]

@TheHammerbox Thanks!