Art Blakey

[aboveforever]

Art Blakey has been a major inluence on me from way back at the beginning. There is just too much to be said about him. He played with uncountable great musicians like Dizzie Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Thelonius Monk, and others and created his own world renowned band named "Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers". He originally started that band with Horace Sliver, but after Horace Silver left he continued the Jazz Messengers. He fostered new musicans who became stars in their own right like Freddie Hubbard, Wayne Shorter, Lee Morgan, Benny Golson, Kenny Dorham, Hank Mobley, Donald Byrd, Jackie McLean, Johnny Griffin, Curtis Fuller, Chuck Mangione, Chick Corea, Keith Jarrett, Cedar Walton, Woody Shaw, Terence Blanchard, Wynton Marsalis, Bobby Timmons, and others.

Tony Williams strove to play with Art Blakey's Drive and Passion (his own words).

Art Blakey went to Africa in 1947 after playing with Billy Eckstine (a famous singer and band leader). He went there to study African drumming. He returned and introduced "real" African drumming to American jazz with the album "Ritual". He made many more albums with African dumming.

Here is a short drum solo with some of his African playing.

[SpazApproved]

I have a Art Blakey b-bop book and it was seriously one of my all time favorite challenging books.

[rickthedrummer]

[Jack Keck]

I was channel surfing many years ago and came across a show where Art Blakey was playing for children. He talked about playing, improvising and even discussed stick selection. He then had the kids up on stage two at a time to take turns playing his drums.

It would be greatly understating it if I was to say I was impressed. It seems like this man lived to truly be a music messenger.

[aboveforever]

To get a better understanding of who Art Blakey was, this song should give you some idea. The actual title is "Moanin' with Hazel", but it has been shortened to just "Moanin". It was written by Bobby Timmons (Art Blakey's piano player). It is one of the most famous jazz compositions out there and has been played by many jazz musicans. You may have heard it.

This was recorded in 1958 at the Club au Saint Germain in France (released in 1959). The Jazz Messengers then included Bobby Timmons, Lee Morgan - Trumpet, Benny Golson - Tenor Sax, and Jimmy Meritt on Bass.

This is the original "Moanin".

[Jack Keck]

Art Blakey has been a major inluence on me from way back at the beginning. There is just too much to be said about him. He played with uncountable great musicians like Dizzie Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Thelonius Monk, and others and created his own world renowned band named "Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers". He originally started that band with Horace Sliver, but after Horace Silver left he continued the Jazz Messengers. He fostered new musicans who became stars in their own right like Freddie Hubbard, Wayne Shorter, Lee Morgan, Benny Golson, Kenny Dorham, Hank Mobley, Donald Byrd, Jackie McLean, Johnny Griffin, Curtis Fuller, Chuck Mangione, Chick Corea, Keith Jarrett, Cedar Walton, Woody Shaw, Terence Blanchard, Wynton Marsalis, Bobby Timmons, and others.

Tony Williams strove to play with Art Blakey's Drive and Passion (his own words).

Art Blakey went to Africa in 1947 after playing with Billy Eckstine (a famous singer and band leader). He went there to study African drumming. He returned and introduced "real" African drumming to American jazz with the album "Ritual". He made many more albums with African dumming.

Here is a short drum solo with some of his African playing.

Based on your mentioning RITUAL, I listened to it via my Amazon Music Unlimited service. Thank you for putting me onto a great album!

[aboveforever]

You're welcome. Here are some more albums with "African drumming". "Orgy in Rhythm - Volumes 1 & 2" (which has other drummers on it playing with Art Blakey - Arther (Art) Talyor, Jo Jones, Specs Wright, and others and "Holiday For Skins - Volumes 1 & 2" which also has Philly Joe Jones, Arther Taylor, and others on congas and bongos and other various percussion instruments.

Some songs are drumming and some with jazz. Here is "Dinga" from "Holiday For Skins Volume 2"

[aboveforever]

This is Art Blakey commenting on "Ritual".

[aboveforever]

This is "Ritual".

[aboveforever]

"Night in Tunisia". When Tony Williams said he was influenced by Art Blakey's passion and drive, this is what he was talking about. This video is a lttle different that the previous post of just the drum from a different performance. This is the total package.