Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers: Mosaic | Vinyl LP, Blue Note

The 1961 album Mosaic marked a pivotal moment in the story of Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers with the drummer welcoming the arrival of trumpeter Freddie Hubbard (replacing Lee Morgan) and pianist Cedar Walton (replacing Bobby Timmons). The band also expanded to a sextet with the addition of trombonist Curtis Fuller who joined existing members tenor saxophonist Wayne Shorter and bassist Jymie Merritt to establish a powerful new line-up that would perform together until 1964 and record several classic albums including Buhaina’s Delight and Free for All. Mosaic opens with a flourish as the band launches into the magnificent title track composed by Walton, and the set also includes memorable compositions by Shorter (“Children of the Night”), Fuller (“Arabia”), and Hubbard (“Down Under” and “Crisis”).

This Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition is stereo, all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal.