I recently started listening to Lee Morgan's wonderful music but didn't know anything about him. This documentary is a great look into his career, his storied relationship with his wife, and the events surrounding his death. Unfortunately, the documentary doesn't have an abundance of photos or clips to work with. They do a pretty good job working with what they have, but it does make me wonder if the length should have been cut given the gap of artifacts to use. I also wonder why they didn't dive more into Morgan's childhood.
18 Reviews
Interesting but slight
jellopuke1 October 2017
Having never heard of Lee Morgan this was an interesting story, but the construction was very by- the-numbers. A standard talking head movie that relied on a tape made in the 90's that sadly didn't illuminate enough to really get a sense of the complete tale. Had this been made when more people involved were alive, it might have been stronger, but they made do with what they had and I can't fault them for that. An interesting TV documentary show episode and about at that level technically. Jazz fans check it out.
A charming documentary
proud_luddite19 February 2018
The focus of this documentary is renowned American jazz trumpeter Lee Morgan (1938 - 1972) as well as his common-law wife Helen More who restored and saved Lee's life during a time of serious drug addiction only to end it later on.
The movie's directing style, by Kasper Collin, reflects the beauty and mood of the jazz music it portrays. A very clever bonus is the use of coloured footage of people walking about the streets of New York in the 50s, 60s, and early 70s. This helps greatly in recalling moods and styles of eras that are long gone.
The main narration of this film is an audio recording of More in 1996. While it is mostly insightful, it is occasionally difficult to understand as More had an unusual accent that is not always easy to comprehend. Collin ought to have used subtitles during these segments.
With many magnificent still photos, TV footage, and interviews with Morgan's past bend members, it was unfortunate that only a brief audio recording of Morgan could be found as evidence of the man himself offstage. But the music - highlighted by Morgan's brilliant artistry as a trumpet player - more than makes up for this gap.
The movie's directing style, by Kasper Collin, reflects the beauty and mood of the jazz music it portrays. A very clever bonus is the use of coloured footage of people walking about the streets of New York in the 50s, 60s, and early 70s. This helps greatly in recalling moods and styles of eras that are long gone.
The main narration of this film is an audio recording of More in 1996. While it is mostly insightful, it is occasionally difficult to understand as More had an unusual accent that is not always easy to comprehend. Collin ought to have used subtitles during these segments.
With many magnificent still photos, TV footage, and interviews with Morgan's past bend members, it was unfortunate that only a brief audio recording of Morgan could be found as evidence of the man himself offstage. But the music - highlighted by Morgan's brilliant artistry as a trumpet player - more than makes up for this gap.
A Documentary worth seeing on the big screen
gortx30 April 2017
Warning: Spoilers
I confess to not being the biggest jazz fan (not sure if I had even heard of Lee Morgan before!), but, this Documentary is one of the best movies released thus far this year. It does what a good Doc should do - bring us closer to details and insights that a dramatic presentation simply can't fully fulfill.
Director Kasper Collin doesn't merely present facts, he takes us back to the 60s and 70s (where the bulk of the story takes place) and makes us feel what those in Morgan's circle felt. Further, this isn't just a talking heads parade, Collin creates a mood and an atmosphere backed by the riveting jazz music scene of the era. There are some 'recreations', but they aren't used to 'fool' the viewer into thinking they are authentic footage, but, rather as a way of further enveloping the viewer into the story (simple shots of desolate streets, wind blowing through trees, snow falling etc.). This is truly a documentary that is meant to be experienced in a theater if possible. Even those unfamiliar with Morgan or Jazz will find something to value here. Superb.
Director Kasper Collin doesn't merely present facts, he takes us back to the 60s and 70s (where the bulk of the story takes place) and makes us feel what those in Morgan's circle felt. Further, this isn't just a talking heads parade, Collin creates a mood and an atmosphere backed by the riveting jazz music scene of the era. There are some 'recreations', but they aren't used to 'fool' the viewer into thinking they are authentic footage, but, rather as a way of further enveloping the viewer into the story (simple shots of desolate streets, wind blowing through trees, snow falling etc.). This is truly a documentary that is meant to be experienced in a theater if possible. Even those unfamiliar with Morgan or Jazz will find something to value here. Superb.
Lee Morgan's Turbulent Life
iquine1 November 2017
Warning: Spoilers
(Flash Review)
I went into this hoping for some exposure to some classic and soulful jazz from a legendary trumpeter, Lee Morgan, and it leans more toward his life story rather than showing many musical clips. Much of the documentary is told through still photography, talking heads and a dash of music interspersed here and there. But I did get to learn more about Lee Morgan from which I knew zero. Dizzy Gillespie found him and gave him his start in his band. After falling into drugs, Morgan was arguably rescued by a woman named Helen who would become a major part of the rest of his life for his best of times and worst of times. The slow-paced film covers significant stories told by people close to him and his life's ups and downs. It was informational yet nothing special. I personally had hoped for a bit more music.
I went into this hoping for some exposure to some classic and soulful jazz from a legendary trumpeter, Lee Morgan, and it leans more toward his life story rather than showing many musical clips. Much of the documentary is told through still photography, talking heads and a dash of music interspersed here and there. But I did get to learn more about Lee Morgan from which I knew zero. Dizzy Gillespie found him and gave him his start in his band. After falling into drugs, Morgan was arguably rescued by a woman named Helen who would become a major part of the rest of his life for his best of times and worst of times. The slow-paced film covers significant stories told by people close to him and his life's ups and downs. It was informational yet nothing special. I personally had hoped for a bit more music.
This is not the ultimate Lee Morgan biography. But it is a very good film that tells a complete story
TheUserIDYouEnteredHasAlready2 April 2017
Warning: Spoilers
As a long time fan of Lee Morgan, I went into this mentally prepared for a big letdown. I had wanted to get a clearer and more complete picture of his life before dying at the young age of 33. I wanted to know more about his previous wife, a Japanese American woman for whom he wrote songs and from whom he split amicably.
In the end though, what the director did was focus on the events that led to the shooting death of Mr. Morgan on a snowy night in New York City and at the hands of his on-again/off-again lover or common-law wife, depending on what perspective one takes. And as a result the film was tighter and more linear than it would have been otherwise.
Even if I hadn't been a fan of the music and of Lee Morgan in particular, I would have walked away from the movie impressed with the directorial skill (which includes interviews and editing) on display, but the fact that we manage to get so many great people on film, including Wayne Shorter, who is 83 years old, really sealed the deal for me.
As of this writing, there is only one other review up, and while I disagree with 97% of it, I agree that this ALSO could have been a very effective PBS radio broadcast or a podcast. But that does not give sufficient credit to this director who shot the material and people (and included the music and rare footage) with such a careful and appreciative eye as well as excellent cinematography.
This is the best jazz documentary I've ever seen and even if it focused on the woman who killed the star (that she previously nurtured back from addiction) it is very much worth seeing (and hearing). I highly recommend it if you have a chance to see it while it is in limited release.
Seen at Lincoln Performing Arts Center, NYC March 2017
In the end though, what the director did was focus on the events that led to the shooting death of Mr. Morgan on a snowy night in New York City and at the hands of his on-again/off-again lover or common-law wife, depending on what perspective one takes. And as a result the film was tighter and more linear than it would have been otherwise.
Even if I hadn't been a fan of the music and of Lee Morgan in particular, I would have walked away from the movie impressed with the directorial skill (which includes interviews and editing) on display, but the fact that we manage to get so many great people on film, including Wayne Shorter, who is 83 years old, really sealed the deal for me.
As of this writing, there is only one other review up, and while I disagree with 97% of it, I agree that this ALSO could have been a very effective PBS radio broadcast or a podcast. But that does not give sufficient credit to this director who shot the material and people (and included the music and rare footage) with such a careful and appreciative eye as well as excellent cinematography.
This is the best jazz documentary I've ever seen and even if it focused on the woman who killed the star (that she previously nurtured back from addiction) it is very much worth seeing (and hearing). I highly recommend it if you have a chance to see it while it is in limited release.
Seen at Lincoln Performing Arts Center, NYC March 2017
A realy good doc
flcttiser15 October 2020
The Best Documentary about "Black Classical Music" and a Long-Ago New York City
kozure-okami-744-7895854 July 2017
If you love and understand real jazz--and especially if you love the long-ago New York City that gave birth to bebop and hard bop--there is nothing out there like this film. It is also fitting that a non-American made it, given that the United States has so turned its back on its greatest artistic creation and the musicians who created it. (Just compare this film with the shameful recent American documentary about Trane--with its pandering casting of Denzel Washington as narrator and utterly stupid and irrelevant choices of people to interview (Bill Clinton? Carlos Santana? Common? Cornell West? John Densmore?). From the late-night Larry Thomas jazz radio program and New York City snowfall and that opens I Called Him Morgan(and hey, whatever happened to that snow? It seems to have disappeared along with the jazz scene),the interviews with jazz musicians of Lee Morgan's time (one of whom who objects to the term "jazz," aptly preferring "black classical music"), and with it's beautifully paced rendering of acompelling American story of love and pain...for someone like me, who lived through all of that, it just could not have been better.
A great documentary of a jazz great
funsterdad26 July 2017
Warning: Spoilers
I love the music and musical performance of Lee Morgan. At the ripe not quite so mature age of 22, I couldn't take pop music's takeover by disco, and after some searching, I discovered a love of jazz music.
One jazz label, in particular, that I latched onto was Blue Note, and that's where I encountered one Lee Morgan. From the first moment I heard him on vinyl I fell in love with his sound; Morgan could play effortlessly in a mellow sort of way, and yet I feel a sense of urgency in what I hear. (I read a review once in which it was suggested that when Lee Morgan played a solo, he played it as if it might be his last, and he wanted to leave us with a statement.)
Delving into Lee Morgan's history, I knew that his life had come to a tragic end when he was just 33 years old. I felt, however, I was lacking in details as to what led to his death.
In 2016, Swedish film writer/director Kasper Collin released "I Called Him Morgan," a beautiful and poignant portrayal of Lee Morgan's professional life that started as a sideman at age 18 to the great Dizzy Gillespie.
Morgan had a tremendous struggle with heroin that could have ruined not just his musical career but his personal future. An older woman who would eventually become Morgan's common-law wife, Helen Moore, entered Morgan's life and became all that he would need to get him back on his feet.This film pays great tribute to Moore's love for Morgan and her place in the more personal side of the New York jazz scene during the peak of Morgan's career. A falling out over Morgan's switching his attention to another woman would lead to his tragic end, however, and seriously effect the jazz community and Helen Moore's life.
The jazz enthusiast in me would perhaps beg for more musical performance, but I believe Collin gave us just enough that a young person with musical interests might explore Morgan's music and/or the genre known as jazz. What brings this documentary to life are the excerpts from a recorded interview with Morgan's wife Helen, filmed interviews with former band mates, and vivid black and white stills taken during both performances and leisure time. The band mates, in particular Wayne Shorter, express great affection for Lee Morgan. It's easy to sense the hurt that was felt when they lost Morgan at such an early age.
Jazz fans especially and film fans especially should be pleased with this documentary release. If you are found to be neither, I believe you will find "I Called Him Morgan" a fascinating film.
One jazz label, in particular, that I latched onto was Blue Note, and that's where I encountered one Lee Morgan. From the first moment I heard him on vinyl I fell in love with his sound; Morgan could play effortlessly in a mellow sort of way, and yet I feel a sense of urgency in what I hear. (I read a review once in which it was suggested that when Lee Morgan played a solo, he played it as if it might be his last, and he wanted to leave us with a statement.)
Delving into Lee Morgan's history, I knew that his life had come to a tragic end when he was just 33 years old. I felt, however, I was lacking in details as to what led to his death.
In 2016, Swedish film writer/director Kasper Collin released "I Called Him Morgan," a beautiful and poignant portrayal of Lee Morgan's professional life that started as a sideman at age 18 to the great Dizzy Gillespie.
Morgan had a tremendous struggle with heroin that could have ruined not just his musical career but his personal future. An older woman who would eventually become Morgan's common-law wife, Helen Moore, entered Morgan's life and became all that he would need to get him back on his feet.This film pays great tribute to Moore's love for Morgan and her place in the more personal side of the New York jazz scene during the peak of Morgan's career. A falling out over Morgan's switching his attention to another woman would lead to his tragic end, however, and seriously effect the jazz community and Helen Moore's life.
The jazz enthusiast in me would perhaps beg for more musical performance, but I believe Collin gave us just enough that a young person with musical interests might explore Morgan's music and/or the genre known as jazz. What brings this documentary to life are the excerpts from a recorded interview with Morgan's wife Helen, filmed interviews with former band mates, and vivid black and white stills taken during both performances and leisure time. The band mates, in particular Wayne Shorter, express great affection for Lee Morgan. It's easy to sense the hurt that was felt when they lost Morgan at such an early age.
Jazz fans especially and film fans especially should be pleased with this documentary release. If you are found to be neither, I believe you will find "I Called Him Morgan" a fascinating film.
Jesus H. Christ...
bartleby565 January 2018
The two negative reviews here are based on the individual reviewers' ignorance of jazz music in general, and the life and music of Lee Morgan in particular. I found this film arresting and completely engaging, even if the pace is incremental. In my view, this is an excellent documentary of the life and TIMES of this great musician. For someone who is not really interested in jazz music of the fifties and sixties, this might seem interminably slow and pointless, but for people who love this period of music history it is told with reverence, love and care.
Typical documentary about a musician
qeter27 October 2016
Seen at the Viennale 2016: This one is straight like a motorway in the desert. Nothing substantial is added to breathe in some life into this documentary. The usual interviews with musicians that were around with Morgan. Fun to see was a program in the window of a jazz club from the '60s with Lee Morgan Quintett playing today and Keith Jarrett the next day. Having seen Keith Jarrett this summer in Vienna it brings Lee Morgan closer to today. I did not know that Lee Morgan was murdered by his wife in his mid-30's. A main item of this movie is a music cassette from 1996 with an interview of his wife and murder Helen. One month after the interview Helen died. Instead of this documentary it would have been much more interesting to produce a radio show with the length of two hours, playing Lee Morgan tunes alternating with the interview of Helen.
Poignant and compelling documentary
ebeckstr-117 August 2018
I agree with the positive reviews of this movie, and simply want to add my appreciation for how human-centered it is. It is not simply a collection of names, dates, and music samples, like many other Jazz documentaries. The latter, too, are essential, however this documentary is largely about people who were simultaneously creating jazz culture and being shaped by both it and their fellow denizens of that world. Prior to watching this movie I had known only that Morgan's wife shot and killed him, and was very surprised to see her treated with compassion by the documentarian, as well as by various people who were there at the time and were friends with her and Morgan.
There is a lot to be learned about jazz from watching this film, but it's ultimately its poignancy which make it so compelling.
There is a lot to be learned about jazz from watching this film, but it's ultimately its poignancy which make it so compelling.
Unforgettable and Haunting Documentary
rannynm16 October 2017
This haunting documentary about the life of a great jazz trumpeter Lee Morgan and his wife Helen is one I will not soon forget. Swedish filmmaker Kasper Collin weaves the tale of their lives and their relationship through interviews with his friends and fellow musicians including saxophonist Wayne Shorter. He caps it off with an interview with Helen a month before her death in 1996. Through extraordinary black and white archival photographs, rare TV performances and an amazing soundtrack of Lee's music, we are transported to the NYC jazz scene from the 50s to the 70s.
As a music aficionado, I was aware of jazz greats Dizzy Gillespie and Art Blakey, but not of Lee Morgan. The footage of his trumpet playing with these masters really drew me in. As one friend said in the film, "Lee really knew how to tell a story musically." His was an exceptional talent as a young teenager of 17. However, his addiction to heroin took him out and it wasn't until he met Helen, that he got back on his feet to play. Through her care, inspiration and love, she managed his career and uplifted him back to compose and play music and eventually form his own band, The Lee Morgan Quartet.
Lee had years of success playing not only clubs in the East but also on the West Coast. Some of my favorite parts of the documentary include footage on a TV show called "Soul", where he dedicates a piece to the activist Angela Davis entitled "Angela", and another TV show hosted by Steve Allen, a talk show host popular at the time. The other favorite part was with the jazz mobile workshop where he worked with young people on musical arrangements and gave them a chance to play and learn from him.
The twist and turns of Lee and Helen's life together end tragically when Lee plays at a popular club called Slugs, down in the East Village of NYC. On a snowy night in February 1972, his life is cut short at the young age of 33 by the woman who had brought him back to life. Following an altercation between sets, Morgan's common law wife Helen Moore, shot him.
I give this film 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it to ages 13 to 18 as well as adult jazz lovers. You can catch I Called Him Morgan on DVD and Blu-ray beginning October 31, 2017.
By Terry S., KIDS FIRST! Adult Juror.
As a music aficionado, I was aware of jazz greats Dizzy Gillespie and Art Blakey, but not of Lee Morgan. The footage of his trumpet playing with these masters really drew me in. As one friend said in the film, "Lee really knew how to tell a story musically." His was an exceptional talent as a young teenager of 17. However, his addiction to heroin took him out and it wasn't until he met Helen, that he got back on his feet to play. Through her care, inspiration and love, she managed his career and uplifted him back to compose and play music and eventually form his own band, The Lee Morgan Quartet.
Lee had years of success playing not only clubs in the East but also on the West Coast. Some of my favorite parts of the documentary include footage on a TV show called "Soul", where he dedicates a piece to the activist Angela Davis entitled "Angela", and another TV show hosted by Steve Allen, a talk show host popular at the time. The other favorite part was with the jazz mobile workshop where he worked with young people on musical arrangements and gave them a chance to play and learn from him.
The twist and turns of Lee and Helen's life together end tragically when Lee plays at a popular club called Slugs, down in the East Village of NYC. On a snowy night in February 1972, his life is cut short at the young age of 33 by the woman who had brought him back to life. Following an altercation between sets, Morgan's common law wife Helen Moore, shot him.
I give this film 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it to ages 13 to 18 as well as adult jazz lovers. You can catch I Called Him Morgan on DVD and Blu-ray beginning October 31, 2017.
By Terry S., KIDS FIRST! Adult Juror.
Very good music doc
tprspan26 January 2019
This was very good. It really set the mood for time periods of the 50s, 60s, and 70s, and of course it was very informative on the music and personal life of Lee Morgan, a great jazz trumpet player. Great interviews with his fellow band members and wife also.
Love sometimes salvation, sometimes perdition... Beautiful and sad documentary...
RosanaBotafogo9 July 2022
Surprising, I didn't know the musicians, nor their stories, sad, an action on impulse and destruction for a lifetime, I felt very sorry for Helen, children who are already born condemned to a suffering future, and when could they have risen again, an act thoughtless, interrupts a future that could have been happy... Love sometimes salvation, sometimes perdition... Beautiful and sad documentary...
Smooth.
PaulDBrazill4 April 2022
I Called Him Morgan is a beautiful and elegiac documentary on the life and death of the great jazz trumpet player Lee Morgan.
Helen Morgan nursed her common-law husband, jazz great Lee Morgan, through heroin addiction. On a February night in 1972, she walked into Slug's Saloon in the East Village with a gun in her purse, and after they fought and he physically threw her out of the bar, she returned and shot him. Highly recommended.
Helen Morgan nursed her common-law husband, jazz great Lee Morgan, through heroin addiction. On a February night in 1972, she walked into Slug's Saloon in the East Village with a gun in her purse, and after they fought and he physically threw her out of the bar, she returned and shot him. Highly recommended.
Interminably slow
asc8526 August 2017
Warning: Spoilers
After watching the first few minutes of this film drag on and on and on, I had a feeling this was a bad omen for what the rest of the film was going to be like. Sadly, I was correct. I could barely keep my eyes open watching this, although now that it's over, I'm wide awake. What does that tell you?
Perhaps if I was more of a jazz aficionado, I would have appreciated the music, and thus this movie, much more. But the film was rated so highly by critics that I didn't think that would matter very much. My mistake. So the nicest thing I can say about this movie is if you're a big fan of classic jazz, you might enjoy this better than I did. Or not.
Perhaps if I was more of a jazz aficionado, I would have appreciated the music, and thus this movie, much more. But the film was rated so highly by critics that I didn't think that would matter very much. My mistake. So the nicest thing I can say about this movie is if you're a big fan of classic jazz, you might enjoy this better than I did. Or not.
Boring
powderandlouder17 April 2020
I found this documentary on a FB Profile of a friend who recommended it. Well, she is a Jazz musician, so it´s understandable. I thought the story-telling was slow and boring and after I watched the whole documentary I thought to myself :
there are people you have never heard about and it this is sometimes even better- like in this case here
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