Customer Reviews

Buhaina's Delight

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Art Blakey was something else! Steady as a rock, strong as an ox, and unrelenting in his pursuit of musical excellence. Blakey cultivated more up-and-coming jazz stars than probably any other musician in history except perhaps Duke Ellington. After converting to Islam, he often took the name "Buhaina". This cd is true to it's name: it is a delight to listen to. I can see Art swinging away on the bandstand with a big smile on his face and sweat pouring off his brow. His drumming is fierce as we have come to expect. Pure FIRE. Blakey works with a wonderful cast here including Wayne Shorter, Curtis Fuller, and Freddie Hubbard. The way these musicians interact on such tunes as "Contemplation" and "Moon River" is astonishing. Gorgeous horn lines rise and fall and weave in amongst each other with such fluidity and grace. Beautiful. There are some real cookers here as well including the title track (which you can see performed live on Ken Burns film "Jazz"), and "Backstage Sally" a mid-tempo slow-burner. Art made many amazing records in his fifty years of recording, but this is surely among the best. If you are a new comer to Blakey this is a great place to start-every bit as good as the better-known "Moanin'"

Quintessential hard-bop. Not to be missed.

Art Blakey is the essence of the hard bop movement. Buhaina's Delight is definitely a swinging album, and it is my opinion that the elements of a swinging tune or album consists of the bassist and the drummer working proficiently together. When the bass player starts to "walk" by playing four quarter notes, the drummer's ride cymbal pattern should almost sound like it is bouncing off the quarter note pulse supplied by the bass player. Art Blakey and Jymie Merritt definitely accomplish the elements of swing on this Album. I would recommend this album to anyone who desires to listen to advanced music or anyone who wants to listen to some "cool tunes."

I can't say enough about this guy's work-at least the 50's-60's stuff w/which I'm familiar. I've got this on right now (after listening to The Big Beat), and this too is great!