Art Blakey

This LP features the third incarnation of Art Blakey’s legendary Jazz Messengers, with trumpeter Lee Morgan, tenor saxophonist Wayne Shorter, pianist Bobby Timmons (replace on two tracks here by Walter Davis, Jr.), bassist Jymie Merritt, and the leader on drums. Lee Morgan was only 22-years old at the time. His recording debut with Blakey had taken place on April 2, 1957. Wayne Shorter joined Art Blakey in 1959 and remained with the Jazz Messengers for five years, eventually becoming the band’s musical director. Pianist Bobby Timmons stayed with Blakey from 1958 to 1961. The group’s formation would soon change, and a few months later, Morgan (who would later rejoin the Messengers) was replaced by Freddie Hubbard, and Timmons (who would never record with Blakey again after leaving the band) was replaced by Cedar Walton.

PERSONNEL:

ART BLAKEY, drums & leader
LEE MORGAN, trumpet
WAYNE SHORTER, tenor sax
BOBBY TIMMONS, piano (on A1-A2 & B2-B3)
WALTER DAVIS, Jr., piano (on A3 & B1)
JYMIE MERRITT, bass

Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey,
February 18 (A1-A2 & Side B) & May 27 (A3), 1961.

SIDE A:

01 PING PONG
02 ROOTS AND HERBS
03 THE BACK SLIDERS

SIDE B:

01 UNITED
02 LOOK AT THE BIRDIE
03 MASTER MIND