Blues March

The Jazz Messengers: Benny Golson (tenor sax), Lee Morgan (trumpet), Bobby Timmons (piano), Jymie Merritt (bass) and Art Blakey (drums). From the album Moanin’ (1959).

Jymie Merritt is a jazz, rhythm and blues and blues bassist and American composer. During the 1950s he played with rock ‘n’ roll precursors Bull Moose Jackson and Chris Powell, and blues guitarist BB King. In 1957 he moved to New York and worked with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers until 1961, when he became ill.

When he was cured of his illness he played with trumpeter and vocalist Chet Baker, and later with drummer, composer and activist Max Roach. He also worked with one of of bebop’s founders, trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, and was reunited with his old friend Lee Morgan.

In this theme the group tries to mix the spirit of the of the old New Orleans bands with the improvisation skills of the musicians of the 1950s. Blakey starts with some rolls of marching until the rest of the group enters. The melody reminds you when you of when you did your military service. The first one to perform his solo is Morgan, who plays beautifully at first, but suddenly triggers a torrent of notes. Then Blakey makes his drumrolls again to give way for Golson’s solo, which is full of passion. Then Timmons comes in with a bluesy feeling and plays the notes in a funny way until he makes a solo with chords. At the end, Blakey returns with his drumrolls announcing the re-exposure of the theme.