Customer Reviews

Freedom Rider

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is one of the best albums by Blakey's Jazz Messengers, performed by one of his most star studded lineups. Performing infront of Blakey's explosive drumming is Wayne Shorter on tenor, Lee Morgan on trumpet, Bobby Timmons on piano, and Jymie Merritt on bass. Most of the tracks were penned by Wayne Shorter or Lee Morgan and all feature high energy performances, especially by Wayne Shorter. His tenor is on fire as he delivers one knock out solo after another. His solo and his exchange with Lee Morgan on "El Toro" as well as his solo on the bonus track "Uptight" are stand outs. The entire group shows it's soft touch on the one slow number, the bonus track "Pisces". Blakey's extended drum piece, "The Freedom Rider" gives the master plenty of room to stretch out and flex his considerable skill as one of Jazz's all time great drummers. This is an exciting, hard swinging set of classic hard bop, and is easliy recommended.

This 1961 session is a great final effort from the Lee Morgan/Wayne Shorter edition of the Jazz Messengers. Standout numbers include the gutsy Shorter blues "Tell it Like it Is"(with Art's encouragement) Blakey's solo feature "The Freedom Rider" and the interesting Lee Morgan waltz time composition, "Blue Lace". This is a classic Messengers album with lots of hard bop and funky blues. This is as much a soul-jazz record as it is a hard bop record. Great album, pick it up!

I've played out my original vinyl of this so I got the CD. I consider it one the 3 best of the Messengers, along with Moanin and Mosaic. But the negative reviewer was correct about the CD version. Shorter is way too loud, and Morgan is hard to hear. I don't remember this on the LP, or the many times I heard "Tell It Like It Is" on the radio in the 60's.

Blue Note is to be chastised for this horrible transfer of this classic cd. Listen to tracks 1 and 3 for an example of what I'm talking about. Compared to Wayne Shorters sax solos, Lee Morgan's blistering trumpet solos sound as if they're being played at the far end of some distant wind tunnel. Did Blue Note not notice this discrepency??

This cd is in dire need of a remastered version. Blue Note has ripped us off and owes it to their paying public. Either that or give me back the 15 bucks I paid.

This is one of the first Jazz Messengers album I bought several years ago, and I have loved it ever since. Each of the musicians on this album were, of course, masters of their respective instruments, but what is really inspiring about this music is how they interact and meld as one cohesive unit. During the 50s and 60 there were many great individual musicians, but not very many outstanding bands that stayed together for long periods of time. But this was certainly one of them. Lee Morgan was one of the most explosive and innovative horn players in jazz at this time, and Art was one of the genre's best drummers. In "Petty Larceny" you may chuckle as the trumpet and piano mimic each other in a humorous way. My two favorites have to be "Blue Lace" and "Pisces", notable for their odd time-signatures and ample sense of mystery. This album is for anyone who loves, or even has a passing fancy for jazz. You'll find that you'll want to hear more when the last notes of "Blue Ching" fade into oblivion.

This is one of Art Blakey's most memorable albums, filled with compelling tunes, blazing solos, thunderous drumming. It is musically excellent and fun to listen to. The three previously unreleased tracks, the CD bonus tracks, are a revelation. They are just as good as anything in the Blakey recorded output. Why they were never released is amazing! If you own this vinyl album, you need to consider getting this CD for the excellent bonus tracks.

As a previous reviewer hinted, the 4-4-2001 reviewer didn't seem to "hear" the music. A group comprised of Wayne Shorter, Lee Morgan, Bobby Timmons, Jymie Merritt, and of course, Art Blakey means it is impossible for the music to be anything less than outstanding.

Lee Morgan plays with his characteristic fire and swagger. Wayne Shorter's playing explains why he his one of the great improvisers and composers in the music's history. Shorter's wonderful blues, Tell It Like It Is, underscores this. In summary, the music speaks for itself!

Nero3000's claim that "Compared to Wayne Shorters sax solos, Lee Morgan's blistering trumpet solos sound as if they're being played at the far end of some distant wind tunnel." makes perfect sense IF YOU ARE ONLY LISTENING TO THE RIGHT-SIDE CHANNEL. Check your own gear before trashing the rating on a classic album. Oh, and if you read Well Red's other "reviews", they are the same tired complaints about Blue Note and RVG. Yawn. Go back to the RCA Victrola if you don't like clarity. I heard the same complaints in the 80's when the compact disc was first introduced.

I'm not sure where the 7/4/01 reviewer was coming from and I'm sorry this CD didn't hook them, but please read the 'Jazzfanmn' review. For the money, you're getting early Lee Morgan and Wayne Shorter, with Bobby Timmons and Jymie Merritt, and Art Blakey in the driver's seat. On paper, it's impossible these people could have put out anything worth rating two stars. They didn't. This CD is beautiful. I bought it on a gamble having not read any reviews, and it paid off. This is right up there with Jackie McLean's, 'Swing, Swang, Swingin' or any of a multitude of fine hard bop albums of the period.

As a previous reviewer hinted, the 4-4-2001 reviewer didn't seem to "hear" the music. A group comprised of Wayne Shorter, Lee Morgan, Bobby Timmons, Jymie Merritt, and of course, Art Blakey means it is impossible for the music to be anything less than outstanding.

Lee Morgan plays with his characteristic fire and swagger. Wayne Shorter's playing explains why he his one of the great improvisers and composers in the music's history. Shorter's wonderful blues, Tell It Like It Is, underscores this. In summary, the music speaks for itself!