AMG Review of This Is Jazz, Vol. 28

Michael G. Nastos
All Music Guide

Early period Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers recordings hint at greater things to come in the '60s and are potent reminders of Blakey's taste level and skill as a bandleader, but also give a great overall view of how the music was changing from bop to hard bop. These sessions from 1956-1958 have been in and out of print several times, and ostensibly feature the second and third editions of the Messengers, including saxophonists Jackie McLean (on his famous "Little Melonae") and Hank Mobley ("Hank's Symphony" is a classic), as well as trumpeters Lee Morgan (his priceless reading of "I Remember Clifford" is here) and Donald Byrd. The Bobby Timmons evergreen "Moanin'" kicks things off. This material, while not essential, has become revered among the cognoscenti over time, and should be in every modern jazz collection.