Roots & Herbs [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]

Jazz Messengers, Art Blakey

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 16, 1999)
• Original Release Date: 1961
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Blue Note Records
• ASIN: B00002SWSP
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #152,038 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Delicious Diet of "Roots And Herbs", August 29, 2000

By	Michael B. Richman (Portland, Maine USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

In 1960 and early 1961, Art Blakey and this classic edition of The Messengers recorded an unheard of eight sessions, seven of them in the studio and one live at the jazz club Birdland. With the CD Reissue of "Roots And Herbs," all of these sessions except the live two volume set "Meet You At The Jazz Corner Of The World" (don't confuse this with the 1959 session currently available as a two-fer with a similar title) have been made available on disc. ("Like Someone in Love" was available but has since been deleted.) The 60-61 Jazz Messengers edition (Lee Morgan, Wayne Shorter, Bobby Timmons and Jymie Merritt) are arguably that historic band's greatest version, and without a doubt one of the great jazz groups in history. "Roots And Herbs" collects songs from three sessions in 1961, and every tune's a scorcher, with "Ping Pong," "The Back Sliders" and "United" leading the charge. The CD also includes three alternate tracks, and it should be mentioned that Walter Davis Jr. replaces Timmons on a couple of tracks, the only lineup change for all those aforementioned eight sessions. If you love classic hard driving bop meets great soul jazz, "Roots And Herbs" is for you.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sensational Hard Bop, December 3, 2000

By A Customer

I'm a big fan of Lee Morgan and Wayne Shorter. This CD, featuring all titles written by a very young, brash, and musically explosive Wayne Shorter is nothing short of sensational. A must for any fan of Shorter, Morgan, Blakey, or great hard bop. I own every Morgan and Shorter issue, with this one (ok, it is actually led by Blakey, but who are we kidding, this is Shorter's gig)I can say Shorter has never sounded better (he will later with Miles, of course). Thanks, Art, for bringing this session together. Just great.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Crisp, fresh and invigorating!, January 8, 2002

By A Customer

To me, this group, and especially this incarnation, defines what jazz is all about. I don't pretend to be an expert, but I can't get enough of the Messengers. Lee Morgan is hot and playful and Shorter is a genius. Art's impecable timing weaves it all together into a finely knit explosion. I played this album over three times when I first received it and it has become my new favorite from this historic collection of artists. Dive in and enjoy!