20 replies to this topic

[Kyo]

Hi there,

this is my first AOTW post. Looking through the previous AOTW threads I was quite surprised
that there's never been an Art Blakey discussion here before - it's about time that changed!
It would be hard to pick one of the many excellent Jazz Messengers albums, so I decided
to avoid having to make that choice and pick a true classic from earlier times instead.



Recorded live at Birdland, NYC, February 21, 1954

Clifford Brown (tp)
Lou Donaldson (as)
Horace Silver (p)
Curly Russell (b)
Art Blakey (d)

Doesn't get much better than that!


I'll post my more detailed thoughts on these two CDs - or three LPs if you will - later. It's not quite
September 3 yet, but this way you can reacquaint yourselves with this music before the discussion starts.


All the Best,
Michael (Kyo)

Edited by Kyo, 02 September 2006 - 11:47 AM.

[Guy]

Excellent choice -- I haven't listened to these in a while.

Guy

[B. Goren.]

Great choice Kyo. I have a lot of sentiments to this one: this was the first tim for me to listen to Cliford Brown.

[John Tapscott]

Great choice. Can't wait to get these out.

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

I haven't played these for a while. Good time to dig them out.

Really accessible music. Wonderful announcements from Pee Wee. I love Blakey's intro where he says, "when these get too old, I'll get me some younger ones". (Or is that Cafe Bohemia?)

Out of the racks for listening tomorrow.

MG

[GA Russell]

I'm glad you chose this! I have this music in the Clifford Brown Blue Note box. So this is a good reason for me to open it up and try the first CD.

[felser]

Amazing stuff, of course. I have more CD's by Blakey than by anyone else - might be over 100. This was his first classic. And anything by Clifford Brown needs to be treasured.

[JSngry]

Pure, joyous energy of the moment coupled with high-caliber musicianship and an unfettered sense of purpose. Can't go wrong with that combination.

[Chuck Nessa]

I was introduced to this stuff on a juke box in the "Student Union" at the University of Iowa. I was a freshman and delighted to find this hip box.

[mikeweil]

This is very special to me: It was recorded the day I was born!!!

It still sounds fresh after all these years, Horace Silver in particular.
And I always thought Curly Russell never got the credits he deserved as one of the pioneer bebop bassists.

[BruceH]

Great choice! I'll be playing these tonight.

[Guy]

I seem to recall that I like volume 2 better than volume 1. Which one has "A Night in Tunisia"? (Or is that on the Bohemia sets?) "Confirmation" is terrific.

Guy

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

I listened to this the other day - glad to be reminded to do so, since it's a while since I played it. What got me this time - it's often something different - was the short, boppy, "Lou's blues". I wonder why he never recorded it again as a leader.

MG

[Kyo]

I listened to this the other day - glad to be reminded to do so, since it's a while since I played it. What got me this time - it's often something different - was the short, boppy, "Lou's blues". I wonder why he never recorded it again as a leader.

He had already recorded it at his first Blue Note session in 1952 and recorded it again in 1959 ( for the "The Time Is Right" album) and once more in 1984 for a live album on Timeless Records.

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

I listened to this the other day - glad to be reminded to do so, since it's a while since I played it. What got me this time - it's often something different - was the short, boppy, "Lou's blues". I wonder why he never recorded it again as a leader.

He had already recorded it at his first Blue Note session in 1952 and recorded it again in 1959 ( for the "The Time Is Right" album) and once more in 1984 for a live album on Timeless Records.

I think these are different tunes. (Unless I noted the track number wrong!)

MG

[Kyo]

I think these are different tunes. (Unless I noted the track number wrong!)

You're right, my bad. These two are the same but the one on the Blakey album is a different tune.

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

I think these are different tunes. (Unless I noted the track number wrong!)

You're right, my bad. These two are the same but the one on the Blakey album is a different tune.

Glad to know I'm not quite ready for the old folks home.

MG

[Neal Pomea]

Good choice! On another board, where someone asked for Blakey recommendations, after the long list of recs like Moanin', etc. , these are the two I recommended.

I don't recall one volume being better than the other, though.

Edited by It Should be You, 07 September 2006 - 02:27 PM.

[Alexander Hawkins]

IMHO, 'Once in a While' is one of the great ballad performances, period. One bona fide genius of a player standing out in front of four very great ones.

[Soul Stream]

IMHO, 'Once in a While' is one of the great ballad performances, period. One bona fide genius of a player standing out in front of four very great ones.

I love this one too, but Dizzy Reece's version of said tune on "Soundin' Off" gets my vote as best all time version of this tune. If you haven't heard it, check it out as I think you'd love it.

[Niko]

IMHO, 'Once in a While' is one of the great ballad performances, period. One bona fide genius of a player standing out in front of four very great ones.

I love this one too, but Dizzy Reece's version of said tune on "Soundin' Off" gets my vote as best all time version of this tune. If you haven't heard it, check it out as I think you'd love it.

if you want to lead this thread off topic i am with you
discovered today that on dizzy's myspace page you can listen to full length sound samples of his new cd (recorded in 1968) Nirvana
http://myspace.com/dizzyreece
you can also buy it from cdbaby
http://cdbaby.com/cd/dizzyreece
besides on his blogspot page there is a nice radio show with tunes from for instance his rare album with john gimore and siegfried kessler...
http://dizzyreece.blogspot.com/