The History of Jazz Messengers

Art Blakey, an explosive drummer, originally came to fame during the classic bebop era, playing with Billy Eckstine's innovative bebop big band of 1944-46. In the late 1940s, he briefly led the Seventeen Messengers and freelanced. In 1954, he and pianist Horace Silver formed and co-led the Jazz Messengers, with the drummer becoming its sole leader after Silver left to form his own band the following year. Up until the time of Blakey's death in 1990, The Jazz Messengers were a swinging institution and the definitive hard bop group.

For 35 years, The Jazz Messengers consistently featured some of the major up-and-coming young musicians, all inspired by Blakey who urged them to write new music for his band. When the players matured, Blakey would persuade them to leave the group and form their own band so he could fill their spot with other young hopefuls. The list of Jazz Messengers who became major names in jazz is remarkable including trumpeters Donald Byrd, Lee Morgan, Freddie Hubbard, Chuck Mangione, Woody Shaw, Wynton Marsalis, Terence Blanchard and Brian Lynch, saxophonists Benny Golson, Johnny Griffin, Jackie McLean, Hank Mobley, Wayne Shorter, Bobby Watson and Branford Marsalis, trombonist Curtis Fuller and pianists Horace Silver, Bobby Timmons, Keith Jarrett, Cedar Walton and James Williams.

The History of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers is a three-CD set that draws its material from Blakey's many classic Blue Note recordings. There is The Thin Man from an obscure session in 1947, two numbers from a quintet with trumpeter Clifford Brown and altoist Lou Donaldson that directly preceded the Jazz Messengers, and then 23 selections dating from 1954-81. Highlights include such classics as Doodlin', Moanin', Blues March, Dat Dere, Lester Left Town, Ping Pong, Up Jumped Spring and Free For All.

Although quite a few versions of the Jazz Messengers are featured throughout this wonderful collection, there is a unity to the music. Blakey always emphasized swinging, concise improvising and solos that go-for-broke. Coasting and playing cliches was simply not allowed and Blakey's drumming forced the musicians to play at their best. The results were timeless music that even decades later rank with the best jazz of today.

The History of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers serves as a perfect introduction to The Jazz Messengers, one of the most important jazz bands of all time.

-Scott Yanow

Three-disc anthology that covers various editions of The Messengers from the beginning to the end. It contains such classics as "Moanin'" and does a good job of showing how much talent passed through the Blakey organization over the decades. It's particularly valuable as an introductory tool, but is not comprehensive enough to substitute for what should come from the label: a true multi-disc boxed set featuring his full recordings for Blue Note. ~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide