"Bobby, Benny, Jymie, Lee, Bu" is an original composition by Harold Mabern, the pianist and composer whose work drew deeply from his Memphis roots, hard bop traditions, and the blues. The title pays tribute to five members of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers: Bobby Timmons (piano), Benny Golson (tenor saxophone), Jymie Merritt (bass), Lee Morgan (trumpet), and Art Blakey himself, known by his nickname "Bu." This particular lineup of the Messengers, active in the late 1950s and early 1960s, produced some of the group's most celebrated recordings and helped define the hard bop and soul jazz idioms that profoundly influenced Mabern's own musical identity. The composition takes the form of an extended blues, reflecting both the earthy foundation of the Messengers' sound and Mabern's lifelong commitment to blues-based improvisation. Mabern had personal connections to several of the dedicatees, particularly Lee Morgan, for whom he also wrote the tribute "Edward Lee," and his compositions frequently honored the musicians who shaped his artistic development. The tune was recorded on Mabern's 2015 album Afro Blue for Smoke Sessions Records, where it appears as the closing track among a set of instrumentals. It has not circulated widely beyond Mabern's own performances, remaining a personal statement of homage rather than a broadly adopted repertoire piece.
