As great as the Shorter/Morgan edition of the Jazz Messengers was there were many wonderful Blakey led bands before and after that period.In fact,the "Jazz Messenger" bands were constantly the springboard for musicians cutting their teeth under Blakey's leadership and moving on to create their own bands.This may be unique in Jazz,as no other leader has fostered so much talent and sent it forth onto the music world as Art Blakey did.
The list of Jazz Messengers reads like a who's who...Kenny Dorham,Hank Mobley,Lou Donaldson,Horace Silver,Clifford Brown,Donald Byrd comprising the earlier editions with Bill Hardman,Byrd,and Jackie McLean in the later 50's.This was also an incredibly active period for Blakey as a sideplayer...Rollins,Monk,Miles,Bud Powell...on and on.
Enter the "golden" Blakey period...Benny Golson,Lee Morgan,Wayne Shorter,Curtis Fuller,Freddie Hubbard,Cedar Walton,Bobby Timmons through the early mid 60's.
He picked up again,in earnest from the early seventies into the late 80's with bands comprising of[in chronological order] Woody Shaw,John Hicks,Dave Schnitter,Valery Ponomarev,Bobby Watson,Wynton Marsalis,Branford Marsalis,Terrence Blanchard,Donald Harrison,Wallace Roney,Kenny Garrett,Benny Green,Javon Jackson,Robin Eubanks,Brian Lynch,Steve Davis and lots of others in and out of the band.
Not only was Art Blakey a master percussionist he was a keen talent scout for the best young players.That is what kept him young,he ran with the youngbloods,over and over again,decade after decade.It is a truly impressive legacy of bands,great players and a testimonial to the desire to create absorbing Jazz spontaneously night after night.
The list of Jazz Messengers reads like a who's who...Kenny Dorham,Hank Mobley,Lou Donaldson,Horace Silver,Clifford Brown,Donald Byrd comprising the earlier editions with Bill Hardman,Byrd,and Jackie McLean in the later 50's.This was also an incredibly active period for Blakey as a sideplayer...Rollins,Monk,Miles,Bud Powell...on and on.
Enter the "golden" Blakey period...Benny Golson,Lee Morgan,Wayne Shorter,Curtis Fuller,Freddie Hubbard,Cedar Walton,Bobby Timmons through the early mid 60's.
He picked up again,in earnest from the early seventies into the late 80's with bands comprising of[in chronological order] Woody Shaw,John Hicks,Dave Schnitter,Valery Ponomarev,Bobby Watson,Wynton Marsalis,Branford Marsalis,Terrence Blanchard,Donald Harrison,Wallace Roney,Kenny Garrett,Benny Green,Javon Jackson,Robin Eubanks,Brian Lynch,Steve Davis and lots of others in and out of the band.
Not only was Art Blakey a master percussionist he was a keen talent scout for the best young players.That is what kept him young,he ran with the youngbloods,over and over again,decade after decade.It is a truly impressive legacy of bands,great players and a testimonial to the desire to create absorbing Jazz spontaneously night after night.