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Art Blakey and the Young Lions - The Marsalis Bros., Donald Harrison Jr, Bobby Watson (1981 - 1991)

By Russell Perry | Jazz at 100
May 19, 2020
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As the 1970s came to a close, many musicians searching for alternatives to jazz-rock fusion or free jazz found a home in straight-ahead acoustic jazz. Art Blakey and the The Jazz Messengers, whose Blue Note contract was not renewed in 1964, had spent a decade in relative obscurity, when he came roaring back with a series of legendary ensembles that fueled this return to jazz classicism. The alumni of this revived band became the core of The Young Lions, as they were known— well-trained, well-behaved, well-dressed virtuoso players with a conservative approach to the jazz canon. The Jazz Messengers and its progeny, the Young Lions in this hour of Jazz at 100.

Playlist

Host Intro 0:00
Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers "Soulful Mister Timmons" from Album of the Year (Timeless) 2:54
Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers "Controversy" from New York Scene (Concord Jazz) 10:38
Host speaks 16:24
Wynton Marsalis Quartet "Hesitation" from Wynton Marsalis (Columbia) 19:14
Branford Marsalis Quartet "Parable" from Scenes in the City (Columbia) 24:51
Host speaks 30:22
Wynton Marsalis Quartet "Autumn Leaves" from Live at Blues Alley (Columbia) 31:04
Host speaks 40:45
Donald Harrison Jr, Terence Blanchard "Duck's Revenge" from Crystal Stair (CBS) 43:17
Donald Harrison Jr Sextet "Indian Blues" from Indian Blues (Candid) 46:13
Host speaks 50:54
Bobby Watson Quartet "Dark Days (For Nelson Mandela)" from Love Remains (Red) 51:21
Host Outro 57:41

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