Conception

The Jazz Messengers: Wayne Shorter (tenor sax), Freddie Hubbard (trumpet), Curtis Fuller (trombone), Cedar Walton (piano), Reggie Workman (bass) and Art Blakey (drums). From the album Ugetsu (1963).

Curtis Fuller is one of the most important American jazz trombonist in the history of jazz. After his military service he played in Yusef Lateeff’s quintet. In 1957 the quintet moved to New York and Fuller recorded his first album as a leader. In 1958 he participated in the John Coltrane Blue Train album and during the 1960s in albums by Bud Powell, Jimmy Smith, Wayne Shorter, Lee Morgan and Joe Henderson.

In 1959 he joined the Jazztet of Art Farmer and Benny Golson until 1961 when he joined the Jazz Messengers of Art Blakey, with whom he remained until 1965. In 1968 he toured with Dizzy Gillespie’s big band and from 1975 to 1977 he also toured with Count Basie’s big band.

At first the theme is soft and delicate, it seems to belong to the cool jazz style. The group only wakes up on the bridge. Unusually, the first one to make his solo is Workman accompanied by piano and drums. Its melodic line is solid and very well elaborated. Shorter follows him playing phrases with taste and elegance that delight the listener’s ear. Next comes Blakey making a powerful and impetuous solo, interrupted by Shorter and Hubbard who play a riff every eight bars. Then the group plays a pre-established arrangement to finish.