Art Blakey / Stan Getz (Music Club: Art Blakey is Jazz / Stan Getz is Jazz

Buhaina’s Delight. Art Blakey was a titan music educator. His Jazz Messengers more prominent jazz musicians than even Miles Davis. This outing finds Bu with a 19 year old Wynton Marsalis and a 27 year old Bobby Watson. They wind their way at too fast a tempo through the Messenger songbook (“Moanin’”, “Round ‘Bout Midnight”). The arrangements are interesting, even compelling (“Angel Eyes”). The performances? Well, Marsalis and Watson both became better soloists and composers than is in evidence here. As a testament, Art Blakey is Jazz is a unique snapshot of two young lions, now mature statesmen, and Blakey with his still considerable powers, even at 60. This disc would be of interest to Marsalis, Watson, or Blakey completists. For me, I am grateful for the Rudy van Gelder edition of Moanin’.

Stan’s Blues. Stan Getz is Jazz is a performance of Getz with a fusion/contemporary jazz grouping, captured live at Cannes in 1980. Captured, that is, with mixed results. Getz sounds uncomfortable faster original fusion numbers, but shines on the ballads and standards (Wayne Shorter’s “Lady Day”, “Autumn Leaves”, and “Billie’s Bounce”). This disc is a pleasant surprise once the listener plods through the first 4 tracks to the heart of the matter. Buy this disc and buy it for the last four tracks. They are killer Getz.

Track Listing ( Stan Getz is Jazz ):Heart Place; Kali-Au; Chappaqua; Empty Shells; Lady Day; Autumn Leaves; Nature Boy; Billie’s Bounce (Total Playing Time 65:43).

Personnel ( Stan Getz is Jazz ):Stan Getz: Tenor Saxophone; Andy Leverne: Keyboards; Brian Bromberg: Bass; Victor Jones: Drums; Chuck Loeb: Guitar.

Track Listing ( Art Blakey is Jazz ):Moanin’; angel Eyes; Free For All; Jodi; One by One; Round ‘Bout Midnight; ETA; Time Will Tell; Blakey’s Theme; My Funny Valentine (Total Playing Time 74:44).

Personnel ( Stan Getz is Jazz ):Wynton Marsalis: Trumpet; Art Blakey: Drums; Jimmy Williams: Piano; Charles Fambrough: Bass; Billy Pierce: Saxophone; Bobby Watson: Alto Saxophone; Ellis Marsalis: Piano (Jodi).