The Big Beat

This album has been added to 1 private list and 1 public list:

• 

  1960

  James

  The Jazz Messengers were rarely better than they are here. Wayne Shorter, Lee Morgan, Bobby Timmons, and Jymie Merritt form one of Blakey's strongest editions. The album combines the punch and accessibility of Moanin' with a growing compositional sophistication. Blakey drives the band relentlessly, but everyone contributes memorable ideas. It feels like a band that knows exactly what it can do.