Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers - The Witch Doctor (1961)

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This 1961 session is less well known than many of the other Jazz Messengers' Blue Note dates from the same period. THE WICTH DOCTOR is, however, a strong outing by the legendary group in its most prolific period. Featuring the classic lineup of Lee Morgan, Wayne Shorter, Bobby Timmons, and Jymie Merritt, Blakey and his Messengers groove hard on cuts like Morgan's title track and the rhythmic "Afrique." Shorter and Morgan make a grand team as always on tasty arrangements like Shorter's "Those Who Sit and Wait," working together on the melody and then blowing tremendously powerful solos.



Blakey is in his prime, spurring on his younger charges with burning grooves and rhythmic waves that would crush weaker men. His intricate patterns on the aptly titled "A Little Busy" provide only a small clue of his overall drumming brilliance. Other worthwhile cuts include Shorter's pulsating "Joelle" and the blistering screamer "Lost and Found."



With Wayne Shorter and Lee Morgan in the front line, this was one of Art Blakey’s best Jazz Messenger units. Bobby Timmons, of course, could swing the section from start to finish. Shorter, Morgan, and Timmons were with the Jazz Messengers together through most of 1960 and 1961.



The Witch Doctor was recorded March 14, 1961. Blue Note has included an alternate take of "The Witch Doctor" with a slightly brighter tempo. While Shorter’s solo is more intense, Morgan’s isn’t as inspired as the original take. In all, however, the two takes of "The Witch Doctor" make excellent bookends for this reissue. Both "The Witch Doctor" and "Afrique" are Lee Morgan’s compositions. Art Blakey encouraged all of his Jazz Messengers to write, and the years (Blakey passed away in 1990) brought quite a few significant jazz composers into direct contact with his tutelage. Two tracks on this album are from Shorter and one is by Timmons. "A Little Busy" swings like his more-famous "Moanin’," "This Here" and "Dat Dere."



On this one Blakey is a little busy with consistent press rolls and such while the pianist swings heartily. Blakey takes an extended drum solo on "Afrique" that demonstrates his power and melodic sense. Fours between leader and band take place several times on different tracks, and a drum "storm" arrives for "Those Who Sit and Wait." The session swings from start to finish with moderate tempos, a walking bass, and a drummer-led snare drum pattern that combines Blakey’s constant ride cymbal behind his more powerful drum attack.





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Tracklist:

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01. The Witch Doctor

02. Afrique

03. Those Who Sit and Wait

04. A Little Busy

05. Joelle

06. Lost And Found

07. The Witch Doctor (alt tk) (bonus track)



*1999 Blue Note / Capitol | 5 21957 2 {1999 Blue Note Remaster}





Personnel:

Art Blakey (drums)

Wayne Shorter (tenor saxophone)

Lee Morgan (trumpet)

Bobby Timmons (piano)

Jymie Merritt (bass)