Name: The Witch Doctor (Blue Note Tone Poet Series)
Brand: Art Blakey

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

B003287501

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Colour

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music US

Limited edition

Release date

2021-06-04

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier US

Unive­rsal

Tax rate US

Sales:8.875

UPC / Barcode

602435148601

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Total Cap

Artist

Art Blakey

Genre US

Jazz

Label US

Blue Note

Art Blakey (1919-1990) was an American jazz drummer, composer, and bandleader. He is best known as the founder and leader of The Jazz Messengers. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Blakey began his musical journey as a pianist but switched to drums after being ordered to do so at gunpoint by a nightclub owner. He learned from legendary drummer Chick Webb and later formed his own band, backing pianist Mary Lou Williams. Blakey played with notable musicians such as Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie before organizing the Seventeen Messengers and recording with the octet called the Jazz Messengers.

In 1948, Blakey visited Africa where he discovered polyrhythmic drumming and embraced Islam, taking on the name Abdullah Ibn Buhaina. Throughout the 1950s, he performed with renowned artists like Miles Davis, Clifford Brown, and Horace Silver. His collaboration with Silver led to the formation of The Jazz Messengers. This group became a platform for young talent under Blakey's leadership until his passing.

Recognized as a major figure in modern jazz, Art Blakey made significant contributions to the genre both as a musician and mentor over three decades. His impact on drums and his ability to nurture emerging talent cannot be overstated.

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Recorded in 1961, but not released until 1967, The Witch Doctor features one of Art Blakey &amp; The Jazz Messengers’ all-time great line-ups: Wayne Shorter on tenor saxophone, Lee Morgan on trumpet, Bobby Timmons on piano, and Jymie Merritt on bass. Shorter and Morgan each contribute two tunes, with Timmons penning one. Highlights include Morgan’s spectacular 6/8 modal piece “Afrique” and Shorter’s minor masterpiece “Those Who Sit And Wait.” Bobby Timmons brings the deep soul goods on his composition “A Little Busy,” and the album closes with a fleet-footed romp through Clifford Jordan’s tune “Lost and Found.”

The Blue Note Tone Poet Series was born out of Blue Note President Don Was’ admiration for the exceptional audiophile Blue Note LP reissues presented by Music Matters. Was brought Joe Harley (from Music Matters), a.k.a. the “Tone Poet,” on board to curate and supervise a series of reissues from the Blue Note family of labels.

Extreme attention to detail has been paid to getting these right in every conceivable way, from the jacket graphics and printing quality to superior LP mastering (direct from the master tapes) by Kevin Gray to superb 180 gm audiophile LP pressings by Record Technology Inc. Every aspect of these Blue Note/Tone Poet releases is done to the highest possible standard. It means that you will never find a superior version. This is IT.

Blue Note Records’ Tone Poet Audiophile Vinyl Reissue Series is produced by Joe Harley and features all-analog, mastered-from-the-original-master-tape 180g audiophile vinyl reissues in deluxe gatefold packaging. Mastering is by Kevin Gray (Cohearent Audio) and vinyl is manufactured at Record Technology Incorporated (RTI).