Art Blakey - The Jazz Messengers (1997)

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Art Blakey - The Jazz Messengers (1997)

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Beginning in 1954, drummer Art Blakey steered a succession of muscular small groups, the Jazz Messengers, that sounded the keynote for the movement called "Hard Bop".
With Blakey's sizzling ride cymbal, swelling press rolls, and tom-tom bombardments on top of the beat, the Messengers welded blues and gospel's roots to bebop's high wire execution.
In modern Jazz - The Essential Records, the British critic Michael James, discussing Hard Bop, another Messengers LP recorded for Colombia in 1956, cited the musical interest (that) was centered on the dialogue between hornman and drummer.
Moreover (alto saxophonist Jackie) McLean and (trumpeter Bill) Hardman were fast developing under their veteran leader's guidance, well-integrated and recognizable styles. Substitute the names Hank Mobley and Donald Byrd, heard here on tenor saxophone and trumpet, respectively, and the same endorsements hold true.
Mobley was additionally growing as a writer - the Messengers recorded no less than six of his tunes for this set. The other in-house contributor th the band's book, the pianist Horace Silver, was already established as a first-rate jazz composer on the strenght of catchy items like "The Preacher" and "Doodlin". His two tuneful originals in this set, "Ecaroh" and especially "Nica's Dream are still being covered by today's young improvisors.
Making its debut on CD, The Jazz Messengers includes five bonus tracks (including a previously unreleased "Deciphering The Message" by Mobley), perceptive new liner notes by the outstanding drummer and New York area radio personality Kenny Washington (seccion producer George Avakian's original notes are also here), and newly published photographs of this important ensemble.