Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers: Jazz Messengers!!!! + Mosaic

Rating: ★★★★

Record and Artist Details

Musicians:

Freddie Hubbard (t)
Curtis Fuller (tb)
Wayne Shorter (ts)
Lee Morgan (t)
Jymie Merritt (b)
Bobby Timmons (p)
Cedar Walton (p)
Freddie Hubbard
Art Blakey (d)

Label:

Essential Jazz Classics

June/2014

Catalogue Number:

EJC 55620

RecordDate:

13-14 June and 2 October 1961

By the time The Messengers recorded Mosaic the group was in transition. Trombonist Curtis Fuller had become a permanent member and further changes were about to come into effect. The album (Jazz Messengers!!!!) recorded for Impulse took place a month after Blue Note's Roots And Herbs while Mosaic emerged after Buhania's Delight by which time Freddie Hubbard had replaced Lee Morgan and Cedar Walton had taken over from Bobby Timmons. Well that bit's sorted! For many, the Hubbard/Shorter/Fuller/Walton configuration finds the Messengers at a creative peak. The addition of Fuller's trombone had fleshed out the overall sound while 23-year old Hubbard was well on his way to being the hottest young bugler in town after Miles. As for Wayne Shorter, during his five-year indenture with Blakey, he rapidly positioned himself as both a genuinely talented writer and instrumentally snapping at the heels of Rollins and Coltrane. Save for Reggie Workman replacing Jymie Merritt (1962), this line-up remained intact for three years. And both these studio albums capture the band on an undeniable roll. Save to say, worthy additions to an already impressive catalogue.

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