Reissued on Fantasy's OJC series, this album finds
Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers paying tribute to Japan (where they had toured to great acclaim) on two selections, featuring
Art Blakey's cousin as a vocalist on "Wellington's Blues" (a real rarity in
The Jazz Messengers' discography) and debuting
Curtis Fuller's "The High Priest." With trumpeter
Freddie Hubbard, tenorman
Wayne Shorter and trombonist
Fuller in fine form, this is one of literally dozens of recommended
Jazz Messengers recordings. ~ Scott Yanow