The Big Beat (Art Blakey album) explained

The Big Beat
Type:	Album
Artist:	Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers
Cover:	Art_big_beat.jpg
Released:	1960
Recorded:	March 6, 1960
Studio:	Van Gelder Studio Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey
Genre:	Jazz
Length:	47:49
Label:	Blue Note BLP 4029
Producer:	Alfred Lion
Prev Title:	Paris Jam Session
Prev Year:	1959
Next Title:	A Night in Tunisia
Next Year:	1961

The Big Beat is an album by Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers recorded on March 6, 1960 and released on Blue Note later that year. The quintet features horn section Lee Morgan and Wayne Shorter and rhythm section Bobby Timmons, Jymie Merritt and Blakey.

Track listing

Side 1

1. "The Chess Players" (Shorter) – 9:31
2. "Sakeena's Vision" (Shorter) – 6:04
3. "Politely" (Hardman) – 6:04

Side 2

1. "Dat Dere" (Timmons) – 8:47
2. "Lester Left Town" (Shorter) – 6:26
3. "It's Only a Paper Moon" (Arlen, Harburg, Rose) – 6:38

CD reissue bonus track

7. "It's Only a Paper Moon" (alternate take) – 6:19

Personnel

The Jazz Messengers

• Lee Morgan – trumpet
• Wayne Shorter – tenor saxophone
• Bobby Timmons – piano
• Jymie Merritt – bass
• Art Blakey – drums

Technical personnel

• Alfred Lion – production
• Rudy Van Gelder – recording engineer, mastering
• Reid Miles – design
• Francis Wolff – photography
• Nat Hentoff – liner notes