'S Make It (slang for 'Let's go')[1] is a recording by the hard bop Art Blakey jazz ensemble. It was recorded in Los Angeles in 1964 and issued on the Limelight label.[2][3][4] Following the departure of stars from his 1961 to 1964 band, Freddie Hubbard, Wayne Shorter and Cedar Walton, it includes previous Blakey alumni and newer players.[5] This was trombonist Curtis Fuller's last recording as a regular member of the group, though he would return to record sporadically with Blakey in the 1970s and 80s. The album was re-released on Verve in 2004.[6]

'S Make It
Studio album by
Released1965
RecordedNovember 15–16, 1964
Los Angeles
GenreJazz
Length35:13 original LP
LabelLimelight
86001
ProducerJack Tracy
Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers chronology
Golden Boy
(1964)
'S Make It
(1965)
Soul Finger
(1965)

Reception edit

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic     [5]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings    [7]

Jeffery S. McMillan has called the release one of Blakey's most underrated works and that it exemplifies his 1964–1965 work.[8] In a review in the December 1965 issue of Black World, the title track is described as "a diabolical concept, a dark image, invoking the innermost caverns of Manhattan."[1] David Rickert calls the album "a fine Messengers album and a good example of the drummer's consistently satisfying work."[6] Russ Musto referred to the release as a "return to a more soulful sound".[9] Ken Dryden stated in his Allmusic review that "It's a shame that this was the only recording by this particular lineup of the Jazz Messengers, as [John] Gilmore's strong blowing complements Morgan very well".[5]

Track listing edit

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Faith"Stan Freeman/Jack Lawrence3:46
2."'S Make It"Lee Morgan5:40
3."Waltz for Ruth"John Hicks5:46
4."One for Gamal"Morgan3:41
5."Little Hughie"Curtis Fuller5:35
6."Olympia"Hicks5:49
7."Lament for Stacy"Morgan5:12

Personnel edit

Musicians

Production

  • Jack Tracy – producer
  • Ken Druker – executive producer
  • Pete Romano – engineer
  • Dave Wiechman – engineer
  • Kip Smith – mixing
  • Leonard Feather – liner notes
  • Don Bronstein – cover photo

References edit

  1. ^ a b "On Record". Black World. 15 (2): 70–71. December 1965.
  2. ^ Art Blakey chronology accessed June 6, 2013
  3. ^ Matsubayashi, K. Mercury Records Collection: LS-86001: 'S Make It / Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers, accessed January 22, 2018
  4. ^ Gourse, Leslie (2002). Art Blakey: Jazz Messenger. Schirmer Trade Books. p. 91. ISBN 978-0-8256-7272-9. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
  5. ^ a b c Dryden, Ken. "'S Make It: Review". Allmusic. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
  6. ^ a b Rickert, David (15 September 2004). "Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers: S Make It". All About Jazz. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
  7. ^ Cook, Richard; Brian Morton (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings. The Penguin Guide to Jazz (9th ed.). London: Penguin. p. 134. ISBN 978-0-14-103401-0.
  8. ^ McMillan, Jeffery S. (2008). DelightfuLee: The Life and Music of Lee Morgan. University of Michigan Press. p. 143. ISBN 978-0-472-03281-5. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
  9. ^ Musto, Russ (14 December 2004). "Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers Return". All About Jazz. Retrieved 3 June 2013.