The Big Beat (Art Blakey album)

The Big Beat is an album by Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers recorded on March 6, 1960 and released on Blue Note later that year. The quintet features horn section Lee Morgan and Wayne Shorter and rhythm section Bobby Timmons, Jymie Merritt and Blakey.

Side 1

 * 1) "The Chess Players" (Shorter) – 9:31
 * 2) "Sakeena's Vision" (Shorter) – 6:04
 * 3) "Politely" (Hardman) – 6:04

Side 2

 * 1) "Dat Dere" (Timmons) – 8:47
 * 2) "Lester Left Town" (Shorter) – 6:26
 * 3) "It's Only a Paper Moon" (Arlen, Harburg, Rose) – 6:38

CD reissue bonus track

 * 1) "It's Only a Paper Moon" (alternate take) – 6:19

The Jazz Messengers

 * Lee Morgan – trumpet
 * Wayne Shorter – tenor saxophone
 * Bobby Timmons – piano
 * Jymie Merritt – bass
 * Art Blakey – drums

Technical personnel

 * Alfred Lion – production
 * Rudy Van Gelder – recording engineer, mastering
 * Reid Miles – design
 * Francis Wolff – photography
 * Nat Hentoff – liner notes