Album of the Year [Import]

Art Blakey, Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 1, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Timeless Holland
• ASIN: B000025XPH
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #453,133 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Shold be Album of the Year every year, March 18, 2005

By 

WillieB - See all my reviews

This review is from: Album of the Year (Audio CD)

As the other reviewer pointed out, it is strange that a record this stellar can only be purchased as an import at substantial cost. I own a 90's version that was released by MCA but would not hesitate to pay the asking price. Out of hundreds of jazz CD's I own or have heard, this will always rank in my top ten.

Recorded in 1981 with the awesome lineup of - Art Blakey (drums), Charles Fambrough (bass), Wynton Marsalis (trumpet), Bill Pierce (tenor sax), Bobby Watson (alto sax), and James Williams (piano). A little over 42 minutes long, this disc is as perfect as it gets and there is absolutely no filler! It's incredible to hear Blakey play... he is so good that he keeps a perfect rhythm going but then inserts offbeat syncopated and ghost beats on top of it. His style of playing always amazes me. Of course the rest of the band kick serious tail also and never miss a beat. Great tunes, outstanding arrangements, awesome solos, what else is there?

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the very top Jazz Messenger records!, August 28, 2001

By 

Mark Asch "notehead" (South Orange, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Album of the Year (Audio CD)

Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers was, to many, something of a "school" where up-and-comers and experienced cats alike would hone their abilities both as a soloists and as a members of a tight ensemble. This particular record, which if I remember correctly won "Album of the Year" awards from some major jazz publications, is truly a pinnacle of ensemble playing. The compositions are extremely tasty, with generally mid to up tempos. The solos are wonderfully lyrical and played with tangible joy. And the recording is quite good, with a proper sound for a swing/bop record. But, as with many top jazz albums, it is the magical feeling of ensemble maintained by this group under Blakey's guidance that makes it so particularly worthwhile. There are no sub-par tracks, although I suppose a personal fave of mine is their rendition of Wayne Shorter's "Witch Hunt". While it is a shame (and rather puzzling) that this disc is no longer available domestically, it is so very, very fine that any jazz fan could justify paying the import price. I'd rank it as one of my 5 all-time favorite jazz discs.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sending the Message of Jazz, April 27, 2002

By 

Lincoln (Black Mountain, NC United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Album of the Year (Audio CD)

What a great album! Released in 1981, when Art Blakey had almost 50 years in the music business, he brings in the fresh young talent of the then 20 year old Wynton Marsalis on trumpet along with Kansas City's own Robert Watson and the classically trained Bill Pierce on sax. A very tight band and a really fabulous set.