Arguably the finest lineup of the Jazz Messengers (with the possible exception of the
Lee Morgan edition), this incarnation of the band --
Blakey, saxophonist
Wayne Shorter (here playing tenor), young trumpeter
Freddie Hubbard, trombonist
Curtis Fuller, pianist
Cedar Walton, and bassist
Jymie Merritt -- set the tone for the hard bop movement of the '60s. This release features six classic modern-jazz icons and four alternate takes. Starting with
Shorter's "Backstage Sally," the band jump into a happy, staccato horn chart and the groove-style shuffle that was their signature sound.
Shorter's tenor-led ballad "Contemplation" finds the brassmen solidly behind him as he unleashes a breathtaking solo, while the
Fuller-penned "Bu's Delight" is a supersonic hard bopper featuring
Blakey's cage-rattling drum breaks and a formidable
Walton solo. Written and led by
Shorter, "Reincarnation Blues" is another good swinger, with counterpoint and unison lines sprinkled in together. The stunner of the set is
Walton's "Shaky Jake," a low, moaning melody with deep-blue harmony soaring over a groove shuffle. On "Moon River," a frisky bopper featuring substantial solos from
Hubbard and
Fuller and a joyous arrangement modified from the original blue waltz, the song's staggered phrases are introduced and interrupted by drum breaks. The second takes of "Moon River" and "Backstage Sally" are fairly close to the first takes, while the alternate versions of "Reincarnation Blues" and "Bu's Delight" run one to two minutes shorter than the originals. Overall, you won't find a better representation of what modern mainstream jazz sounds like.
Blakey and his band are on it from start to finish. ~ Michael G. Nastos