Originally recorded in 1961,
Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers
'
Roots & Herbs
was first released in 1970. Like many titles in the
Blue Note
catalog, this fine
Blakey
outing was initially shelved by
Alfred Lion
for unknown reasons; thankfully, considering
's large array of available
albums, this wasn't necessarily a crisis. Having already been a magnet for such talented
hard bop
players and writers as
Hank Mobley
,
Benny Golson
Clifford Brown
Horace Silver
(who helped form the original group), and
Kenny Dorham
the Messengers
' lineup of 1961 featured one of
's best rosters: In addition to trumpeter
Lee Morgan
, who would alternate in the early '60s with
Freddie Hubbard
, the band featured tenor saxophonist
Wayne Shorter
, pianists
Walter Davis, Jr.
and
Bobby Timmons
, and bassist
Jymie Merritt
. Feeding off six early compositions by
Shorter
, all the players reel off top-notch solos atop
's fluidly galvanizing swing beat. Highlights include "Ping Pong," "Look at Birdie," and "Master Mind," compositions that, in their fetchingly askew ways, nicely foreshadow the wealth of ideas to come from
's pen throughout the '60s. ~ Stephen Cook