BST 84347

Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers - Roots and Herbs

Released - 1970

Recording and Session Information

Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, February 18, 1961
Lee Morgan, trumpet; Wayne Shorter, tenor sax; Bobby Timmons, piano #1-3; Walter Davis Jr., piano #4,5; Jymie Merritt, bass; Art Blakey, drums.

tk.2 Look At The Birdie
tk.4 Mastermind
tk.10 Ping Pong
tk.18 Roots And Herbs
tk.26 United

Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, May 27, 1961
Lee Morgan, trumpet; Wayne Shorter, tenor sax; Bobby Timmons, piano; Jymie Merritt, bass; Art Blakey, drums.

tk.4 The Back Sliders

Track Listing

Side One
Title	Author	Recording Date
Ping Pong	Wayne Shorter	February 18 1961
Roots and Herbs	Wayne Shorter	February 18 1961
The Back Sliders	Wayne Shorter	February 18 1961
Side Two
United	Wayne Shorter	February 18 1961
Look at the Birdie	Wayne Shorter	February 18 1961
Master Mind	Wayne Shorter	February 18 1961

Liner Notes

Ever since Art Blakey formed the Jazz Messengers in 1955 (Lord’ Has it really been 15 years?), he has continually been in the forefront of those who determinedly seek young musicians to fill holes that develop in a group, rather than depend upon veterans who might be less flexible in thinking and daring in approach.

And he has always taken every opportunity to speak up proudly for his men and the music they play. There is the often-told story, apocryphal, perhaps, but certainly not impossible in Art’s case, that supposedly happened some years ago.

Once, when the Messengers were in their station wagon on one of those seemingly interminable trips between dates, they came to the outskirts of a small town and, seeing a goodly crowd gathered, got out to stretch their legs and see what was happening.

It was a funeral.

They moved up closer.

Intoned the minister, “Does anyone have anything to say before we inter these mortal remains?”

Silence.

Again the question was asked. Again, silence.

At which point they say Art stepped forward and said huskily, “If there is nothing anyone wants to say about the deceased, I hope no one here minds if I say a few words about jazz.”

Blakey has done a few things about jazz in his long career, too, but to list all the bands he’s played with, and all the accomplishments, would be merely to echo what has been written countless times before. Not only does he speak for his music, he lets it speak for itself.

For that’s just what this album does. Although it was recorded nine years ago in 1961, it contains all the exuberance and pulse and musical searching that is a hallmark of Art’s work.

The chief soloists are men who were all in their early 20s — trumpeter Lee Morgan, Wayne Shorter, pianist Bobby Timmons. Significantly, they since all have become known as composers as well as instrumentalists. Blakey likes people in the band to contribute as much as possible to the totality of the texture.

All these compositions were written by Wayne Shorter, then a budding but obviously talented writer. The performances are all excellent ensemble-wise, the solos sparkle, and the rhythm section is as tight as the bark on a tree. Blakey sees to that.

One might wonder why Alfred Lion waited so long to release these sides, but that they certainly stand the passage of a decade with easy grace is obvious.

They speak well for jazz.

Blakey always did.

-Jack Tracy