The Big Beat (Art Blakey album)

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.

The Big Beat
Studio album by Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers
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
Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers chronology
Paris Jam Session (1959) The Big Beat (1960) A Night in Tunisia (1961)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide	[2]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings	[3]

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