This edition of drum master Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers was said to be his favourite of all. The band included the young trumpet virtuoso Lee Morgan, tenor saxophonist/composer Wayne Shorter who brought his original sounding tenor to the band AND his composing and arranging talent. Wayne soon became the "musical director" of the band. Pianist/composer Bobby Timmons was a great star in this band as well and wrote several of the group's hits. Bassist Jymie Merrit was referred to as "the workhorse of the band" with his sure time and big sound. Art Blakey as leader needs very little introduction as he was one of the most distinctive and influential drummers in Modern Jazz. This album is now considered a classic despite the fact that it got a poor rating and was slagged by the esteemed Jazz critics. This date was the first official recording of this superb edition of The Messengers. The premise of this month's Jazz Features are albums that initially got terrible ratings in the Jazz press and became classics. This date was no different. It features three new compositions by Wayne Shorter and one by Bobby Timmons and one by ex-messenger Bill Hardman and Shorter's arrangement of the standard "It's Only a Paper Moon". "The Big Beat" tonight is worth checking or re-checking. One of Blakey's best!

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