Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers: Just Coolin' (Blue Note 80 series) [BLUE NOTE]

Why you'll love it

This Blue Note pressing was made in Germany. It captures the Morgan and Mobley front line at Rudy Van Gelder's Hackensack studio on March 8, 1959, a session that stayed in the vaults for more than 60 years.

This edition

• Blue Note 80 series
• Pressed in Germany
• Stereo mix

About the album

Blue Note's vaults still have a few surprises in them, and this one was worth the wait. Alfred Lion recorded the Jazz Messengers in the studio in March 1959, and a month later the same band played Birdland and cut the live At the Jazz Corner of the World, with four of the same tunes. The live album came out, and the studio tapes went back on the shelf until reissue producer Zev Feldman brought them out.

It's a strong edition of the band. Lee Morgan's trumpet is all fire and swagger, Hank Mobley's tenor is warm and round, Bobby Timmons brings his gospel-soaked piano and Jymie Merritt holds down the bass while Blakey drives everything from behind the kit. Mobley wrote three of the six tunes: the loping "Hipsippy Blues," the title track and "M&M," named for himself and Morgan. Timmons contributed the bright "Quick Trick," Bernice Petkere's standard "Close Your Eyes" gets a gorgeous swinging treatment, and "Jimerick" rounds out the set. Van Gelder's sound is as crisp as you'd hope.

Hard bop fans finally get to hear these tunes the way the band first laid them down, fresh and focused in the studio. Being bumped by your own live album is, as career hiccups go, a rather nice one to have.

Also at Kops: more Art Blakey on vinyl · browse Classic Jazz

Tracklist

Listen

On Blue Note (cat# 64201), the 2020 album.