Art Blakey and Lee Morgan during Blakey’s The Big Beat session, Englewood Cliffs NJ, March 6 1960 (photo by Francis Wolff)

Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers - Joelle (1961)

From Nat Hentoff’s liner notes:

“Ever since he beame a leader, Art Blakey and his various colleagues during any given period have indeed been messengers. The message is swift and clear — know your horn, use it convey the immediacy of your experience, and listen to what’s going on around you. You can always tell an Art Blakey combo in the first few bars. There’s no waste of time or motion, no pretentious preludes. These are men taking care of business with forceful economy, deep roots in the essentials of the jazz language, and that particular flair — a jaunty élan — that is the hallmark of an Art Blakey unit. 

As it happens, this particular group was one of Blakey’s best — a fusion of independent stylists who nurtured each other’s ardor with a seriousness and a joyfulness of musical purpose that gives this music its impregnable identity. It is an album that will have something to say to you as long as you’re around to listen.”

Hank Mobley and Lee Morgan, with James Spaulding looking on during Mobley’s A Slice of the Top session, Englewood Cliffs NJ, March 18 1966 (photo by Francis Wolff)

Two views of Lee Morgan’s Volume 3 session, featuring Morgan, Gigi Gryce and Benny Golson, Hackensack NJ, March 24 1957 (photos by Francis Wolff)

Cedar Walton at Lee Morgan’s Sonic Boom session, Englewood Cliffs NJ, April 28 1967 (photo by Francis Wolff)

David “Fathead” Newman at Lee Morgan’s Sonic Boom session, Englewood Cliffs NJ, April 28 1967 (photo by Francis Wolff)

Lee Morgan at his Sonic Boom session, Englewood Cliffs NJ, April 28 1967 (photo by Francis Wolff)

Wayne Shorter with Lee Morgan in the background during Shorter’s Night Dreamer session, Englewood Cliffs NJ, April 29 1964 (photo by Francis Wolff)

Morgan appeared on Art Blakey’s Indestructible five days earlier, and he’s sporting the head bandage there, too.

Lee Morgan and Benny Golson during Morgan’s Volume 3 session, Hackensack NJ, March 24 1957 (photo by Francis Wolff)

[l to r] Lee Morgan, Wayne Shorter, and Curtis Fuller during Art Blakey’s Indestructible session, Englewood Cliffs NJ, April 24 1964 (photo by Francis Wolff)