Wayne Shorter's first studio album with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers was recorded on November 10, 1959. Two of the six songs on the date were composed by the tenor saxophonist. Then the album sat in the Blue Note vault for 22 years, when it finally was released as Africaine in 1981. We have re-issue producer Michael Cuscuna to thank for dusting off the find. Given that October 11 on Friday was the centenary of Art Blakey's birth, what better time to explore one of my favorite albums by the drummer and his hard-bop group. [Photo above of Art Blakey]
The roots of the Messengers' name date back to 1947, when Blakey formed Art Blakey's Messengers for a Blue Note recording session. Originally, the recordings were released as 78s. Then in 1952, the songs plus others recorded in 1949 were released on a 10-inch LP entitled New Sounds. In 1954, Horace Silver recorded a Blue Note studio album called Horace Silver and the Jazz Messengers.
Two years later, Art Blakey (d), Donald Byrd (tp), Hank Mobley (ts), Horace Silver (p) and Doug Watkins (b) appeared on a hard-bop album for Columbia called The Jazz Messengers. Finally, Blakey formed Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers in 1958, with Lee Morgan (tp), Benny Golson (ts), Bobby Timmons (p), Jymie Merritt (b) and Art Blakey (d) and recorded the Blue Note album Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, most commonly known today as Moanin'.
In the years ahead, a long list of superb musicians played in the group before moving on to solo careers. Playing as one of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers was a rite of passage, giving players a special seasoning. Performing and recording nagged by Blakey's polyrhythms and press rolls had a burnishing effect on these artists, and they were better musicians and composers for the experience.
The Jazz Messengers on Africaine were Art Blakey (d), Lee Morgan (tp), Wayne Shorter (ts), Walter Davis, Jr. (p), Jymie Merritt (b), with Dizzy Reece playing conga on Africaine and Haina. The album's track list features the title song and Lester Left Town by Shorter, Splendid by Davis, and Haina, The Midget and Celine by Lee Morgan. There isn't a wheel-spinner or tired songbook standard among them. All are simultaneously muscular and pretty. [Photo above of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers in 1959]
What I love most about this album are the exotic rhythms and the heat delivered by Morgan and Shorter. Davis's piano solos are exceptional, and Merritt's taut bass lines are extraordinary. As for Blakey, he's pure machinery here, driving the group hard and mixing up the rhythms. And the songs are aggressive with coy melodies and dashing harmonies by the horns. Shorter's debut with the band was clearly a success. A shame he had to wait 22 years to hear the results. [Photo above of Wayne Shorter by Francis Wolff (c) Mosaic Images]
Art Blakey died in October 1990.
JazzWax tracks: You'll find Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers' Africaine here.
JazzWax clip: Here's the entire album...
