'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

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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

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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

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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

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  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.