Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers: The Sesjun Radio Shows

195

Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers: The Sesjun Radio Shows

By

Sign in to view read count
Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers: The Sesjun Radio Shows
The old and irksome "but is it jazz" argument has probably never been brought into play when it comes to drummer/bandleader Art Blakey (1919-1990) and his ever-changing line-up of The Jazz Messengers. The music Blakey and his usually young players made was most certainly jazz, of the hard bop, hard-charging variety—brash and brightly hued, and joyously swinging.

The Jazz Messengers, active from the early 1950s until the mid-'80s, was an on-the-job Jazz university, graduating such luminaries as Clifford Brown, Curtis Fuller, Lee Morgan, Wayne Shorter, Branford Marsalis and Wynton Marsalis, Donald Byrd, Hank Mobley and Benny Golson, Bobby Timmons.

The Sesjun Radio Shows captures later stage Blakey bands, recorded live for the Dutch radio show Tros Sesjun in 1978, 1980, and 1983. The star level of the personnel may not be as high as earlier Messenger configurations, but the music remains remarkably consistent under Blakey's taskmaster leadership.

The first set, broadcast in December, 1978, opens with alto saxophonist Bobby Watson's "Time Will Tell." Another Blakey trait was his ability to mine his band members' songwriting skills for his group. The tune is bright and up-tempo, rolling in on some unison trumpet/alto blowing, before Watson sears into a hot sax solo, demonstrating another Blakey band characteristic: these guys solo with supreme confidence. The three horn men in the front line each get their turns—Watson, trumpeter Valery Ponomarev and tenor saxophonist David Schnitter—while behind them, the rest of the Messengers maintain a steady, high-speed cruise control.

Some of the more familiar tunes offered up on the three sets include Benny Golson's "Along Came Betty," the classic "Stairway to the Stars," Shorter's "Free for All," the Great American Songbook jewel "Polka Dots and Moonbeams," and, of course, Blakey's signature song, "Moanin,'" from the pen of Bobby Timmons.

Of special note is the third set, four tunes that feature trumpeter Terence Blanchard, who doubled as musical director when Blakey's drinking began interfere with his ability in that area (though not in his playing). The band sounds a bit smoother and more together here, more refined, the "hard" in the hard bop polished down just a bit, with everybody—Blakey included—in the finest of form.

Track Listing

CD1: Time Will Tell; E.T.A.; My One and Only Love; Dr. J.; Evaline; Along Came Betty; Stairway to the Stars; Free for All. CD2: Blues March; 1977 A.D.; Little Man; Polka Dots and Moonbeams; Moanin'; The Theme.

Personnel

Art Blakey: drums;David Schnitter: tenor sax (CD1#1-5); Valery Ponomarev: trumpet (CD1#1-8; CD2#1-2); Bobby Watson: alto sax (CD1#1-8; CD2#1-2); James Williams: piano: CD1#1-8; CD2#1-2); Dennis Irwin: bass (CD1#1-6); Billy Pierce: tenor sax (CD1#7-8; CD2#1-2); Charles Fambrough: bass (CD1#7-8; CD2#1-6); Jean Toussaint: trumpet (CD2#3-6); Terence Blanchard: trumpet (CD2#3-6); Donald Harrison: alto sax (CD2#3-6); Johnny O'Neal: piano (CD2#3-6).

Album information

Title: The Sesjun Radio Shows | Year Released: 2011 | Record Label: Naxos

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris
Candid
Sunny Five
Inside Colours Live
Julie Sassoon

Popular

Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Light Streams
John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.