Art Blakey, king of the drums.

Shadorne, can you help me figure out; why do I keep looking for James Brown to come running out on the stage and grab the mike.

Around 20 years ago I saw Maceo with Fred Wesley at Blues Alley and their drummer was Melvin. I believe the only other instrumentation besides them was one guitar, bass and keys. Anyway it was virtually a JB show without JB, except our table was literally just a few feet from the stage in a small club, which of course would be impossible with JB. Like many great musicians, Maceo sings like he plays. One of my fav shows ever. Later on, when instrumental funk started being hip with the jam-band white kids, he got popular as a solo and quit playing such intimate, jazz-oriented venues in favor of larger rock-oriented concert halls (around here it was the new 9:30 Club, which he could sell out).

Anyway, back on topic: For max jungle groove, don't overlook side 1 of Art's "Drum Suite" album, recorded in '56 and released on Columbia the next year, with Jo Jones doubling the drum thunder quotient along with Candido and Sabu on bongos and Charles Wright on additional drums and percussion. The great Ray Bryant debuted his classic "Cubano Chant" and Oscar Pettiford played bass and cello. (Side 2 is from a different, previously-recorded session of the Jazz Messengers with Jackie McLean, Bill Hardman, Sam Dockery and Spanky DeBrest -- hands-down the best jazz name ever, or should I say hands-on?). I have it on 6-eye and it'll blow your socks off.

Zaikesman, I just checked; I have that. It's Blakey's most memorable in my opinion. That lineup was too incredible for words. Oscar Pettiford is the best bassist ever, or ever will be. (all music is subjective)