Art blakey & the jazz messengers

[pmckee]

what's the hardest swingin' messengers recording you've ever heard. I have moanin'n, ugetsu, and a jazz message. what are some you could recommend?

[Chrix]

I'm a really big fan of "Free for All" and the "Three Blind Mice" volumes. "Free For All" is just killin' in my own opinion...

[Kevin Hsieh]

i was introduced to the messengers through a night at birdland vol. 1. with curley russell on bass.

great stuff

[TroyK]

Those are some good ones. Mosaic is a nice one in the same vien.

The record that I think is one of the hardest swinging of them all that's name changes frequently with the pressing, but it's usually called something like

"Horace Silver and the Original Jazz Messengers"

Check that one out for sure.

If you want to hear what happens when a good bassist (Jymie Merritt) gets a little too triplet happy, check out "The Big Beat"

Somewhat differnet, but one of my favorites is "Live in the 50's". It a Benny Golson era band and it's kind of laid back.


There are so many Jazz Messengers records. It's tough to collect them. There are just too many. Hard Bop University.

[ducknturtle]

There are lots of good ones. My personal favorite is just called Jazz Messengers on Impulse. Has Curtis Fuller on Trombone plus Lee Morgan, Wayne Shorter, Bobby Timmons and Jymie Merritt on bass. Superb.

[Sam Sherry]

Caravan is just killin'.

The arrangement is a gonad-twister (quartal harmony chock full o' flat nines, then Wayne and Fred play the Charlie Parker solo over the bridge while Curtis Fuller plays Tizol's melody).

Then Freddie plays one of the most paint-peeling, blistering solos of his career. No wonder Miles was looking over his shoulder in 1962 . . .

[frichter]

Originally Posted by Sam Sherry

Caravan is just killin'.

The arrangement is a gonad-twister (quartal harmony chock full o' flat nines, then Wayne and Fred play the Charlie Parker solo over the bridge while Curtis Fuller plays Tizol's melody).

One of the combos I am in at DePaul just played this arrangement for our most recent concert. Man was it a blast. I felt really bad for the horn players by the end of it, because it is just a killer. The bird line is extremely technical, the harmonies require execellent listening, and the groove needs constant focus. Other than that, its a breeze .

+1 for Mr. Sherry's recommendation.

[pmckee]

I'll definitely check out caravan and all the other recommendations.

Hey Sam Sherry, what's the jazz scene like in Portland, I'm from California (going to school in boston now) and have some family up in Boothbay Harbor so I go through Portland a lot en route to see them. What are some good clubs to check out? I always just change buses there, but it seems like a really cool city.

Thanks again guys.

[j.a.e.r.i.p]

Check out Buhaina's Delight, that is a sweet record, and also check out 'roll call'-hank mobley, reminds of blakey, sweet stuff

[Ben Rolston]

I'm a big fan of The Big Beat.

[milomo]

At the Jazz Corner of the World, Vol. 1-2 is one of the first jazz records I ever bought, and it's still one of my all time favorites.

The Jazz Messengers is with the original cast, except with Donald Byrd replacing K.D. Of course great playing, and really nice writing/arranging.

Indestructible is Lee Morgan's comeback record with the Messengers, replacing Freddie in the Wayne/Curtis/Cedar/Reggie edition, and it's superbad!

And Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers: Tokyo 1961 & London 1965 is a great DVD. Half is the Big Beat era band in Japan, and it's burning, but the second half is the real prize. It's Lee and John Gilmore in the front line, with John Hicks and Victor Sproles, and just to hear Gilmore play some of the great Messenger's tunes, like On The Ginza and Bu's Delight, as well as a beautiful ballad feature on I Can't Get Started, it's worth every penny.

[mattfong]

For sure check out A Night In Tunisia. Great album with Lee Morgan, Wayne Shorter, Jymie Merritt, and Bobby Timmons.

A Night In Tunisia opens with Blakey, and then the rest of the band joins in, all playing percussion except for Merritt. Crazy polyrhythms going on all over the place. The whole band is killing.

[Bruce Lindfield]

Originally Posted by Sam Sherry

Caravan is just killin'.

The arrangement is a gonad-twister (quartal harmony chock full o' flat nines, then Wayne and Fred play the Charlie Parker solo over the bridge while Curtis Fuller plays Tizol's melody).

Then Freddie plays one of the most paint-peeling, blistering solos of his career. No wonder Miles was looking over his shoulder in 1962 . . .

I've got the CD that is on - very nice stuff!

I think I prefer them with Horace Silver though - there is a 1956 album on Columbia just called The Jazz Messengers - which has Nica's Dream on it - I think my favourite ever "Hard Bop" tune!


There was also a nice live 2-CD set re-released/mastered recently "Meet you at the Jazz Corner of the World" - with Wayne Shorter and Lee Morgan - live at BirdLand in 1960 - could there be a better front line for Hard Bop..? Withe Bobby Timmons and Jymie Merritt on piano/bass.


They also did an album with Monk...just too many to recommend!!

EDIT I had only read as far as Sam's post when I wrote the above - but I can see now that milomo has said 2 of the same albums as me!! Great minds think alike!!

[mattfong]

Oh I have that album with Monk, its great.

[relacey]

I'm late to this thread, but I'd second Kevin. A Night at Birdland (both volumes) is just blowing me away right now. Curley Russell really swings. Clifford Brown on trumpet, Blakey on drums, Lou Donaldson on alto and Horace Silver on piano.

[TroyK]

Originally Posted by relacey

I'm late to this thread, but I'd second Kevin. A Night at Birdland (both volumes) is just blowing me away right now. Curley Russell really swings. Clifford Brown on trumpet, Blakey on drums, Lou Donaldson on alto and Horace Silver on piano.

Yep, technically not a "Jazz Messengers" record, though. "Art Blakey Quintet". There were a few of those. I'm not sure why they were released that way instead of as Jazz Messengers, but it's good trivia.

[relacey]

Thanks, that's some trivia I didn't have. It was credited as the ABQ, I didn't realize there was a distinction. I was really digging Curley Russell's playing and started searching TB to see what else was out there (not much discussion on him as it turns out.) Anyway, I stumbled over this thread and was feeling overly chatty for a change. I generally lurk and learn. -- Ron

[TroyK]

See, it pays to speak up. I'm not sure why the distinction. I know that piece of trivia because someone called me on it once.

[senorblues]

My favorite Blakey Number is AlaMode. Senorblues is a big Horace Silver fan.

[mark0]

One of my favorites is "the witch doctor", with Lee morgan and Wayne shorter...This recording make me jump off the chair every time i listen to it