The Night Of The Cookers Volumes 1 & 2 puts trumpeters Freddie Hubbard and Lee Morgan, two of the biggest guns of the hard-bop era, head to head throughout an extended live set. James Spaulding plays alto sax and flute, balancing out the brighter, brassier timbres of Hubbard and Morgan, and a crack rhythm section of pianist Harold Mabern, bassist Larry Ridley, drummer Pete La Roca, and conga player Big Black keeps things simmering. Each disc contains only two compositions, Clare Fischer's "Pensativa" and Richard Carpenter's "Walkin'" make up Disc One, and two Hubbard compositions, "Jodo" and "Breaking Point" occupy the second. Since each cut clocks in at approximately 20 minutes, there is ample solo time for each musician; the approach here is all about stretching out over solid grooves. Spaulding and Mabern turn in agile improvisations, but the spotlight is on the two trumpeters. Morgan's playing pales a bit besides Hubbard's on this date--understandably, as Hubbard is tirelessly playful and acrobatic. There are chops galore on this classic hard-bop document, and fans of the era (and of these musicians in particular) will find much to admire.

The second of two LPs (both of which have been reissued on CD) features trumpeter Lee Morgan sitting in with Freddie Hubbard's regular quintet of the period (which included James Spaulding on alto and flute, pianist Harold Mabern, bassist Larry Ridley and drummer Pete La Roca) plus guest Big Black on congas at a club date. Unfortunately what should have been a major matchup between Hubbard and Morgan is a major disappointment. Morgan had an off day, the two performances on this record ("Jodo" and "Breaking Point") are much too long and the recording quality is barely passable.