History of Jazz Messengers

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Art Blakey, an explosive drummer, originally came to fame during the classic bebop era, playing with Billy Eckstine's innovative bebop big band of 1944-46. In the late 1940s, he briefly led the Seventeen Messengers and freelanced. In 1954, he and pianist Horace Silver formed and co-led the Jazz Messengers, with the drummer becoming its sole leader after Silver left to form his own band the following year. Up until the time of Blakey's death in 1990, The Jazz Messengers were a swinging institution and the definitive hard bop group.

For 35 years, The Jazz Messengers consistently featured some of the major up-and-coming young musicians, all inspired by Blakey who urged them to write new music for his band. When the players matured, Blakey would persuade them to leave the group and form their own band so he could fill their spot with other young hopefuls. The list of Jazz Messengers who became major names in jazz is remarkable including trumpeters Donald Byrd, Lee Morgan, Freddie Hubbard, Chuck Mangione, Woody Shaw, Wynton Marsalis, Terence Blanchard and Brian Lynch, saxophonists Benny Golson, Johnny Griffin, Jackie McLean, Hank Mobley, Wayne Shorter, Bobby Watson and Branford Marsalis, trombonist Curtis Fuller and pianists Horace Silver, Bobby Timmons, Keith Jarrett, Cedar Walton and James Williams.

The History of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers is a three-CD set that draws its material from Blakey's many classic Blue Note recordings. There is The Thin Man from an obscure session in 1947, two numbers from a quintet with trumpeter Clifford Brown and altoist Lou Donaldson that directly preceded the Jazz Messengers, and then 23 selections dating from 1954-81. Highlights include such classics as Doodlin', Moanin', Blues March, Dat Dere, Lester Left Town, Ping Pong, Up Jumped Spring and Free For All.

Although quite a few versions of the Jazz Messengers are featured throughout this wonderful collection, there is a unity to the music. Blakey always emphasized swinging, concise improvising and solos that go-for-broke. Coasting and playing cliches was simply not allowed and Blakey's drumming forced the musicians to play at their best. The results were timeless music that even decades later rank with the best jazz of today.

The History of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers serves as a perfect introduction to The Jazz Messengers, one of the most important jazz bands of all time.

-Scott Yanow

Contents

The Thin Man; Quicksilver; Wee Dot; Doodlin'; Avila and Tequila; Minor's Holiday; Little T; Moanin'; Blues March; Justice; Dat Dere; Lester Left Town; A Night In Tunisia; Ping Pong; Mosaic; Arabia; Three Blind Mice; Up Jumped Spring; Free For All; When Love Is New; The Egyptian; Gertrude's Bounce; Jodi; A Wheel Within a Wheel; Ms. B.C.

Sahib Shihab, Lou Donaldson, Jackie McLean, Bobby Watson, Alto Saxes; Musa Kaleem, Hank Mobley, Benny Golson, Wayne Shorter, Carter Jefferson, Dave Schnitter, Bill Pierce, Tenor Saxes; Ernie Thompson, Branford Marsalis, Baritone Saxes; Kenny Dorham, Clifford Brown, Bill Hardman, Lee Morgan, Freddie Hubbard, Woody Shaw, Valery Ponomarev, Wynton Marsalis, Trumpets; Howard Bowe, Curtis Fuller, Robin Eubanks, Trombones; Walter Bishop, Horace Silver, Sam Dockery, Bobby Timmons, Cedar Walton, Walter Davis, Jr., James Williams, Pianos; Laverne Barker, Curly Russell, Doug Watkins, Spanky DeBrest, Jymie Merritt, Reggie Workman, Mickey Bass, Dennis Irwin, Charles Fambrough, Basses; Art Blakey, John Ramsey, Drums; Kevin Eubanks, Guitar; Tony Waters, Congas.