Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers: Africaine

Date:	Tuesday, November 10, 1959
Label/Number:	Blue Note LT-1088
Personnel:	Art Blakey (d) Lee Morgan (tp) Wayne Shorter (ts) Walter Davis, Jr. (p) Jymie Merritt (b) Dizzy Reece (conga)
Tracks:	The Midget / Lester Left Town / Celine / Splendid / Haina / Africaine / It’s Only A Paper Moon
Location:	Englewood Cliffs
Producer:	Alfred Lion
Liner Notes:	Conrad Silvert
Research Comments:	The Jazz Messenger’s first recording with the classic front line of Morgan and Shorter was not released until 1979. These were also the first recordings of compositions by Shorter. Producer Alfred Lion did not like Shorter’s “Lester Leaps In” at first, and didn’t want to let the session go overtime while the band worked on it. Blakey got mad and shouted at Lion, “It’s my band, and I’m gonna run it.” The two long-time friends made up by the next recording session, when, according to Shorter, Lion laughed and said, “Art, you make me so damn mad!,” to which Blakey replied sweetly, “Alfred, you’re all right with me.”* * From the album liner notes by Conrad Silvert.
Status Notes:
Sources:	BND CDJ LMD LOC-LP RU2