Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers - Roots & Herbs (1961) [2014 SHM-CD Blue Note 24-192 Remaster]

Originally recorded in 1961, Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers' Roots & Herbs was first released in 1970. Like many titles in the Blue Note catalog, this fine Blakey outing was initially shelved by Alfred Lion for unknown reasons; thankfully, considering Blakey's large array of available Blue Note albums, this wasn't necessarily a crisis. Having already been a magnet for such talented hard bop players and writers as Hank Mobley, Benny Golson, Clifford Brown, Horace Silver (who helped form the original group), and Kenny Dorham, the Messengers' lineup of 1961 featured one of Blakey's best rosters: In addition to trumpeter Lee Morgan, who would alternate in the early '60s with Freddie Hubbard, the band featured tenor saxophonist Wayne Shorter, pianists Walter Davis, Jr. and Bobby Timmons, and bassist Jymie Merritt. Feeding off six early compositions by Shorter, all the players reel off top-notch solos atop Blakey's fluidly galvanizing swing beat. Highlights include "Ping Pong," "Look at Birdie," and "Master Mind," compositions that, in their fetchingly askew ways, nicely foreshadow the wealth of ideas to come from Shorter's pen throughout the '60s.

Tracks:

01 - Ping Pong
02 - Roots And Herbs
03 - The Back Sliders
04 - United
05 - Look At The Birdie
06 - Master Mind
07 - The Back Sliders (alt. take) (bonus track)
08 - Ping Pong (alt. take) (bonus track)
09 - United (alt. take) (bonus track)

Personnel:

Art Blakey — drums
Lee Morgan — trumpet
Wayne Shorter — tenor saxophone
Bobby Timmons — piano
Walter Davis, Jr. — piano
Jymie Merritt — bass