Drummer Art Blakey led many great editions of the Jazz Messengers from the inaugural mid-'50s sessions until his death in the '90s. While arguments rage regarding which was his best, there is no doubt that the 1960-1961 unit figures in the debate. This wonderful six-disc set, notated with care and painstaking detail by Bob Blumenthal, covers studio and live sessions from March 6, 1960, to May 27, 1961, with the same personnel on all but two songs. Producer Michael Cuscuna used only first issue dates, and while he included some alternate takes, he did not litter the discs with second-rate vault material. They smoothly detail the band's evolution, cohesion, and maturation. This set, as with all Mosaic boxes, goes beyond essential. Get it post haste.
Bass – Jymie Merritt (tracks: 1.1 to 5.1, 5.3 to 6.10)
Design – Richard Mantel
Drums – Art Blakey
Engineer – Rudy Van Gelder
Liner Notes – Bob Blumenthal, Michael Cuscuna
Photography By – Francis Wolff
Piano – Bobby Timmons (tracks: 1.1 to 3.9, 4.2 to 6.10), Walter Davis, Jr.* (tracks: 3.10, 4.1)
Producer [Original Sessions] – Alfred Lion
Reissue Producer – Michael Cuscuna
Tenor Saxophone – Wayne Shorter (tracks: 1.1 to 5.1, 5.3 to 6.10)
Trumpet – Lee Morgan (tracks: 1.1 to 5.1, 5.3 to 6.10)

An interesting set of music originally recorded as the soundtrack for the French film Les Liaisons Dangereuses, the majority of these tracks feature Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers of mid-1959 with trumpeter Lee Morgan, tenorman Barney Wilen, pianist Boby Timmons and bassist Jymie Merritt joining the explosive drummer/leader. In general, the music manages to stand on its own with the ensemble getting to stretch out a bit on the rare material. ~ Scott Yanow
Digitally remastered pressing of Art and his Messengers' soundtrack to the 1960 film Les Liaisons Danereuses. Blakey's Messengers on this album include Lee Morgan, Barney Wilen, Bobby Timmons and Duke Jordan. 10 tracks. Universal.
All songs written by Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers.
Recorded at Nola Studios in New York, July 28-29, 1959. Includes liner notes by Marcel Romano.
Personnel: Art Blakey (drums); Charlie Rouse (vocals); Barney Wilen (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); Lee Morgan , Sonny Cohn (trumpet); Duke Jordan, Bobby Timmons (piano); Art Taylor (drums); William Rodriguez, Tommy Lopez (congas).
Recording information: Nola Studio, New York, NY (07/28/1959/07/29/1959).
Director: Aubrey Mayhew.
Personnel: Art Blakey (drums), Barney Wilen (soprano, tenor saxophone), Lee Morgan (trumpet), Bobby Timmons, Duke Jordan (piano), Jimmy Merritt (bass), John Rodriguez, Tommy Lopez, William Rodriguez (percussion).