First Flight to Tokyo: The Lost 1961 Recordings' is a thrilling previously unreleased live recording of Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers captured at Hibiya Public Hall in Tokyo on January 14, 1961, during the band's first-ever tour of Japan. The Jazz Messengers were among the first modern jazz groups to tour the country, and adoring Japanese audiences were enthralled by one of the band's all-time great line-ups featuring the legendary drummer with Lee Morgan on trumpet, Wayne Shorter on tenor saxophone, Bobby Timmons on piano, and Jymie Merritt on bass. The concert featured soaring performances of well-known jazz staples including Charlie Parker's 'Now's the Time' Thelonious Monk's ''Round About Midnight' and Jazz Messenger hits including 'Blues March', 'Dat Dere' and 'Moanin'.
Track Listing:
1. Now's the Time - Take 1 (Live at Hibiya Public Hall, Tokyo, Japan 14/1/61) - Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers
2. Moanin' (Live at Hibiya Public Hall, Tokyo, Japan 14/1/61) - Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers
3. Blues March (Live at Hibiya Public Hall, Tokyo, Japan 14/1/61) - Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers
4. The Theme (Live at Hibiya Public Hall, Tokyo, Japan 14/1/61) - Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers
1. Dat Dere (Live at Hibiya Public Hall, Tokyo, Japan 14/1/61) - Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers
2. 'Round About Midnight (Live at Hibiya Public Hall, Tokyo, Japan 14/1/61) - Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers
3. Now's the Time - Version 2 (Live at Hibiya Public Hall, Tokyo, Japan 14/1/61) - Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers
4. A Night in Tunisia (Live at Hibiya Public Hall, Tokyo, Japan 14/1/61) - Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers
5. The Theme - Version 2 (Live at Hibiya Public Hall, Tokyo, Japan 14/1/61) - Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers
Year of Production: 1961
