Cat No DVDIJ519

Both these Blakey concerts are issued here on DVD for the first time ever. The first one presents the Jazz Messengers filmed at a studio in Tokyo, Japan, at the height of their fame. It offers one of the rare opportunities to see Lee Morgan on film (he was 23 at the time), as he was seldom captured by movie or TV cameras during his short life (he was regrettably killed in 1972, at the early age of 33). It is also interesting to see a young Wayne Shorter in his pre-Miles stage and talented pianist Bobby Timmons, whose celebrated composition “Moanin’” is performed here by the group. And, of course, the opportunity to see Blakey display all of his tricks on the drums is always electrifying. A Japanese big band joins the group for the last two tunes.

Equally essential, this DVD presents another complete rare appearance by the Jazz Messengers with Lee Morgan - this time in London, four years later, in 1965, and including John Gilmore on tenor sax, John Hicks on piano and Victor Sproles on bass. The announcer is another famous musician, English trumpeter Humphrey Lyttleton.