A Night in Tunisia is a jazz album by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, released in 1960. From the liner notes by Barbara J. Gardner: “This album is a prime example of Blakey’s expressed desire to showcase his young talent. Not only is there extended solo room for the musicians; further, all but the title tune were written and arranged by the talented junior jazz citizens in his group.” Gardner further writes about the title track, written by Dizzy Gillespie: “‘A Night in Tunisia’ as recorded here remains the spectacular fiery poly-rhythmic stimulant that it is when performed live in night clubs and concert stages. The mood is set as Shorter leaps in to render a brilliant rapid-fire solo. Morgan’s airy solo sparkles to the foreground. Note his climactic building and multinoted technique. Bobby Timmons feeds back drive and fire from the keyboard along with the Blakey sizzling cymbals and sputtering drums. Merritt here, as throughout the album, is the capable anchor man.” The album was recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and engineered by Rudy Van Gelder.

Personnel:

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