Free For All

1. Free For All 2. Hammerhead 3. The Core 4. Pensativa

A full decade after the Messengers were formed, Art Blakey's revolving-door unit had evolved from a funk-heavy, blues-oriented hard-bop quintet into a probing and turbulent postbop sextet that betrayed the influence of free-leaning musicians like John Coltrane and Ornette Coleman. This mentality peaked on the title track to this 1964 firecracker, the most intense and feverish recording in Messenger history, whipped forward by Blakey's absolutely violent and vicious percussion. The hornmen--Curtis Fuller, Freddie Hubbard (who wrote "The Core"), and especially Wayne Shorter (who composed both "Free for All" and "Hammer Head")--do admirably well just to be heard atop Blakey's frenzied polyrhythms, leaving melody behind in favor of fiery spirit and starch. And if it's not the drums doing the prodding, it's Blakey's well-timed grunts and growls of admonishment and approval. --Marc Greilsamer

Price: $13.98