I have Moanin, The Jazz Messengers and others, but I just don't get into Blakey's drumming style or its sound. I recognize that he was great but... I don't know if it's the sound of the traps he played or how he played them, but his sound signature sometimes grates on me.
Art Blakey, king of the drums.
Someone inquired about North African music, and while perusing my collection in an attempt to help; I ran across Art Blakey, who is neither North or South African, but who's music is "king" of the African Beat.
I give you "The African Beat"; featuring ART BLAKEY, drums; SOLOMON G. ILORI, vocal, penny whistle, talking drum; CHIEF BEY, conga, telegraph drum, double gong; MONTEGO JOE, bambara drum, double gong, corboro drum, log drum; GARVIN MASSEAUX, chekere, African maracas, conga; JAMES OLA FOLAMI, conga; ROBERT CROWDER, BATA DRUM, conga; CURTIS FULLER, tympani; YUSEF LATEEF, oboe, flute, tenor sax, cow horn, thumb piano; AHMED ABDUL MALIK, bass.
"Orgy in Rythm Vols one and two" is the next CD. ART BLAKEY, ARTHUR TAYLOR AND JO JONES on drums; SABU, bongo, timbales; 'POTATO' VALDEZ, JOSE VALIENTE congas; UBALDO NIET, timbales; EVILIO QUINTERO, tree log, HERBIE MAN, flute; RAY BRYANT, piano; WENDELL MARSHALL bass.
These two CD's will take you to the jungle, make you want to put on a grass skirt, and shake "yo booty".
What's your favorite Blakey?
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Foster, tell me what you think about these two Blakey's. Maybe you can use them to illustrate the drumming you were talking about. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JV0ew5RJodM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoqCGc12Rog&feature=related |
Art plays in front of the beat. He gives it an energetic sound but I can understand Foster_9's view. Many find that the pocket lies slightly behind the beat. In contrast, playing behind the beat gives a more relaxed feel. Some drummers can play both styles with ease and move around in order to create tension and release in the music. Think Elvin Jones. Here is an example you should feel how it relaxes and then speeds up. This feel is entirely controlled by the relationship between the bass and drummer. You can feel them both working the groove to relax and then alternately |
Compare my last video with this version played with the same horns and a different rhythm section. Cold Sweat This is Melvin Parker on drums (Maceo's brother). You can still feel the tension and release but the overall feel is much more laid back than the first example I gave. These two examples show how influential the rhythm section can be. Some will prefer one version over the other....neither is necessarily the "correct" way to play....a lot depends on the musicians mood that very night. |
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