The Big Beat is an album by Art Blakey and his group The Jazz Messengers recorded on March 6, 1960 and released on the Blue Note label. It features performances by Blakey with Lee Morgan, Wayne Shorter, Bobby Timmons, and Jymie Merritt.

The Big Beat
Studio album by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers
Released	1960
Recorded	March 6, 1960
Studio	Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ
Genre	Jazz
Length	47:49
Label	Blue Note BST 84029
Producer	Alfred Lion
Art Blakey and 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

1. "The Chess Players" (Shorter) - 9:31
2. "Sakeena's Vision" (Shorter) - 6:04
3. "Politely" (Hardman) - 6:04
4. "Dat Dere" (Timmons) - 8:47
5. "Lester Left Town" (Shorter) - 6:26
6. "It's Only a Paper Moon" (Arlen, Harburg, Rose) - 6:38
7. "It's Only a Paper Moon" [Alternate Take] - 6:19 Bonus track on CD

Personnel

• Art Blakey — drums
• Lee Morgan — trumpet, flugelhorn
• Wayne Shorter — tenor saxophone
• Bobby Timmons — piano
• Jymie Merritt — bass

References