United is a Wayne Shorter composition that became a signature piece for Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. It was first recorded in 1961 and released on the Blue Note album Roots and Herbs in 1970. The track sits in a hard bop frame with a moody minor key ii-V-i, and features an Afro-Cuban infused drum section before returning to the head. The Roots and Herbs date features Lee Morgan on trumpet, Wayne Shorter on tenor, Walter Davis Jr. on piano, Jymie Merritt on bass, and Blakey on drums. Since then the tune has inspired many covers, including Medeski Martin & Wood’s version, and contemporary tributes such as Emmet Cohen’s 2021 take with Peter Bernstein on guitar.
