Art Blakey - Art Blakey's Big Band (1958/2013) [Official Digital Download 24-bit/96kHz]

A rare outing for drummer Art Blakey performing with a big band. The 15-piece orchestra here gave Blakey the chance, or maybe the excuse, to pound his drums even louder and more aggressively than in his usual small-combo setting. Blakey preferred the freedom of small bands, but several of the musicians who worked with him on this album thought he was at his best drumming in a big band context. And some of the names in Blakey's band on this album? John Coltrane, Donald Byrd and Al Cohn, among many others.

Throughout his long career as a bandleader, drummer Art Blakey very rarely played with big bands. This Bethlehem date was a one-shot affair, an opportunity for his powerful drumming to be heard propelling a 15-piece orchestra through a set of mostly new material. With such soloists as John Coltrane (who is also featured on two quintet numbers), trombonist Jimmy Cleveland and trumpeters Donald Byrd and Ray Copeland, this was a potentially mighty band; its arrangers included Melba Liston and Al Cohn. This LP is worth searching for.

Tracklist:

01 - Midriff
02 - Ain't Life Grand
03 - Tippin'
04 - Pristine
05 - El Toro Valiente
06 - The Kiss Of No Return
07 - Late Date
08 - The Outer World

Produced by Lee Kraft.
Recorded on December 1957.

Musicians:
Art Blakey - drums
Donald Byrd, Ray Copeland (tracks 1, 2 & 5-8), Bill Hardman (tracks 1, 2 & 5-8), Idrees Sulieman (tracks 1, 2 & 5-8) - trumpet
Frank Rehak, Jimmy Cleveland, Melba Liston - trombone (tracks 1, 2 & 5-8)
Bill Graham, Sahib Shihab - alto saxophone (tracks 1, 2 & 5-8)
Al Cohn (tracks 1, 2 & 5-8), John Coltrane - tenor saxophone
Bill Slapin - baritone saxophone (tracks 1, 2 & 5-8)
Walter Bishop, Jr. - piano
Wendell Marshall - bass


Thanks to the Original customer!