Art Blakey.
I’m pretty sure that I’ve listened to Art Blakey more than any other artist this past year. It started with his album Caravan – I was captivated not only by his raw, unadulterated drumming but also by the talented band members – on that particular album he played with Freddie Hubbard on trumpet and Wayne Shorter on tenor sax, both of whom moved on to very successful solo careers.
The second album that I picked up was Free For All. I was staying up late to finish up some work, and decided to put it on in the background. The opening track captivated me to the point where I was unable to concentrate on anything else, so I just gave up and listened. There are so many nuances to this recording that I love – you can hear the bandmates cheering on Wayne Shorter on his ruthless opening solo, and Blakey’s sheer emotion coming out in groans during his drum solo at the end. Have a listen:
After my third or fourth album, it began to occur to me that the Jazz Messengers (which Blakey co-founded with Horace Silver) had yielded an extremely impressive alumni list. Art Blakey’s ability to surround himself with some of the youngest and brightest up and comers in jazz began to intrigue me. On “A Night at the Birdland” he remarked:
I’m gonna stay with the youngsters. When these get too old I’ll get some younger ones. Keeps the mind active.
I’ve always wondered what was it about him that allowed him to spot and cultivate talent so consistently. The only other band leader that comes to mind is Miles Davis – but even so, the sheer amount of musicians that Blakey brought up far outshadows any other group bar none. Some artists that I’ve discovered and have come to love through their involvement with the Jazz Messengers include Freddie Hubbard, Kenny Garrett, Lou Donaldson, Branford & Wynton Marsalis, Lee Morgan, Reggie Workman, and of course Wayne Shorter (my second favorite saxophonist of all time).
Below is a video that shows Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers in their prime, performing live on a Japanese television show in 1961. This particular iteration of the Jazz Messengers featured Wayne Shorter on tenor sax, Lee Morgan on trumpet, Bobby Timmons on the keys and Jymie Merritt on upright bass. Enjoy.