GQ Repost - Art Blakey - Paris Jam Session (1959)

This 1959 concert in Paris by Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers has been sporadically available on various labels, but this reissue in Verve's Jazz in Paris series is the best sounding and best packaged of the lot. Blakey's group of this period (Lee Morgan, Wayne Shorter, Jymie Merritt, and Walter Davis, Jr.) is in great form during an extended workout of Morgan's intense blues "The Midget," and Dizzy Gillespie's timeless "A Night in Tunisia" is kicked off by Blakey's an electrifying solo. But it is the addition of some special guests for the first two numbers that proves to be extra special. Bud Powell, sitting in for Davis, and French saxophonist Barney Wilen, on alto rather than his normal tenor sax, are both added to the band for inspired versions of Powell's "Dance of the Infidels" and "Bouncing with Bud." Morgan's trumpet playing is outstanding throughout the concert. This is one of the essential live dates in Art Blakey's rather extensive discography. (AMG review)

Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers:

Lee Morgan (tp) Wayne Shorter (ts) Walter Davis, Jr. (p) Jymie Merritt (b) Art Blakey (d)

plus special guests on two songs: Barney Wilen (as) Bud Powell (p)

Track list:

1. Dance of the Infidels (w/ Wilen and Powell)

2. Bouncing With Bud (w/ Wilen and Powell)

3. The Midget

4. A Night In Tunisia

Recorded December 18, 1959 at Theatre des Champs-Elysees, Paris.

This is the 2000 24-bit Gitanes "Jazz In Paris" series remaster. Originally released on Fontana in 1960:



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Part 1 (96.7 MB)

Part 2 (96.7 MB)

Part 3 (92.5 MB)

Also available on Avaxsphere as 320 kbps MP3, courtesy of Ibiza