Jazz Articles about Art Blakey

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Art Blakey: Holiday For Skins

by Chris May
June 27, 2006

An unpleasant odour of Eurocentric condescension has hung over Art Blakey's drum choir projects ever since they were recorded in the late 1950s. Orgy In Rhythm (1957) and Holiday For Skins (1958)--both originally released as two LPs and both now packaged on single CDs, the latter newly available in this Connoisseur edition--have been viewed by some in the critical fraternity as no more than a bit of inconsequential and unchallenging fun in which Blakey crashes around, more at less at ...

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Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers: Live! at Slug's, NYC

by Samuel Chell
June 9, 2006

The drums and bass are miked too “hot," and the horns occasionally distort, but there are at least two compelling reasons to listen to this 2006 release of a 1968 on-location Messengers date featuring an unusual Blakey lineup. (No doubt some jazz fans will recognize Slug's as the unpretentious Bowery jazz saloon where Lee Morgan was shot and killed by a jealous lover.)

Billy Harper was an emerging tenor star and a dominant, “first-call" musician on the New ...

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Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers: Live at Slug's, NYC

by David Rickert
March 6, 2006

Many of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers left the group to build successful careers of their own. However, in between Lee Morgan and Wayne Shorter and the Marsalises was this curious 1968 band, made up largely of talented unknowns. This particular version of the band never made it into the studio, and this live recording from Slug's in New York City is only one of two recordings of this band know to exist.

Those who are well versed in ...

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Elmo Hope: Trio and Quintet

by AAJ Italy Staff
February 5, 2006

Questo è uno dei pochi dischi di Elmo Hope in circolazione oggi in Italia. Un plauso alla Blue Note che l'aveva già pubblicato in CD (con identica copertina e stessi brani) 15 anni fa ed oggi lo riedita per il beneficio di chi se l'era perso.Dopo anni di totale oblio, lo sfortunato pianista e compositore bop ha avuto nel decennio scorso una certa rivalutazione critica ma dal pubblico jazz è ancora ampiamente ignorato.Un vero peccato, perché ...

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Art Blakey: Drum Suite / The Big Beat / Caravan

by Russ Musto
October 16, 2005

Together these three reissues demonstrate that although each of Blakey's bands maintained a similar sound they also possessed their own individual identities.

Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers Drum Suite Columbia-Legacy

Drum Suite is a unique entry in the Blakey discography. Originally comprised of two sessions - one debuting Blakey's first percussion ensemble, the other with the unit featuring Bill Hardman, Jackie McLean, Sam Dockery and Spanky DeBrest - this reissue appends a third date including ...

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Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers: Drum Suite

by Jim Santella
September 29, 2005

The all-star lineup on Drum Suite gives the album high marks before one note of music is played. It's a piece of history. Released in 1957, the album merged Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers with several other musical forces that proved fruitful, rhythmically and otherwise.

With this reissue come several bonus tracks that had appeared on Originally in 1981, one alternate take, and a full version of “The Sacrifice" that wasn't previously issued. The original liner notes from Drum ...

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For Art's Sake

by Jeff Fitzgerald, Genius
April 11, 2005

Drummer and bandleader Art Blakey is driving through a small town when he notices a sparsely-attended graveside service being conducted in the hamlet's cemetery. He stops his car and gets out, perhaps paying his respects to some anonymous soul he would now never even meet. As the pastor's service winds down, a call is made for anyone to come forward with their own remarks. There is a long, awkward silence. Finally, Blakey steps forward. “If no one has anything to ...