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AVID Jazz here presents three classic Art Blakey albums plus, including original liner notes on a finely re-mastered
and low priced double CD
“Big Band”, “Jazz Messengers - Hard Drive” and ”The Jazz Messengers” plus three tracks live from the Newport Jazz
Festival in 1959.
Just as Miles had a constant stream of seasoned players in his bands and provided a training ground for young and
upcoming musicians, so did Art Blakey with his Jazz Messengers. The list of greats and future greats is certainly
impressive from Donald Byrd to Wayne Shorter taking in John Coltrane, Hank Mobley, Horace Silver, Johnny Griffin
and dozens more! Here we find the powerhouse drummer on fine form in a number of different settings. The Big Band
was no stranger to Art having cut his teeth with Fletcher Henderson as far back as 1939 and as a member of Billy
Eckstine’s Big Band, perhaps the greatest of the modern era, featuring Bird and Dizzy! “The Jazz Messengers” set
from 1956 really swings and provides the template for future Messengers line ups and shows how a small combo can
provide plenty of room for improvisation. “Jazz Messengers - Hard Drive” from 1957 finds Art joined by tenor Johnny
Griffin and pianist Junior Mance who help Art produce his best set since the departure of original members Horace
Silver and Hank Mobley.
CD1
1-8: ‘Big Band’
1. Midriff
2. Ain’t Life Grand
3. Tippin’
4. Pristine
5. EI Toro Valiente
6. The Kiss Of No Return
7. Late Date
8. The Outer World
9-15: ‘Jazz Messengers - Hard Drive’
9. For Minors Only
10. Right Down Front
11. DEO-X
12. Sweet Sakeena
13. For Miles And Miles
14. Krafty
15. Late Spring
CD2
1-7: ‘The Jazz Messengers’
1. Infra-Rae
2. Nica’s Dream
3. It’s You Or No One
4. Ecaroh
5. Carol’s Interlude
6. The End Of A Love Affair
7. Hank’s Symphony
8-11: ‘1959 Newport Jazz Festival’
8. Willis Conover’s Introductions
9. M & M
10. Close Your Eyes
11. Moanin’
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