Ken Burns JAZZ Collection: Art Blakey

Ken Burns JAZZ Collection, Art Blakey | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 7, 2000)
• Original Release Date: November 7, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Polygram Records
• ASIN: B000050I3M
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #92,777 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Confirmation

2. Doodlin'

3. Evidence

4. Moanin'

5. Blues March

6. A Night In Tunisia

7. Free For All

8. When Love Is New

9. Ms. B.C.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Very few drummers or bandleaders have had the impact on jazz that Art Blakey did, using his explosive playing to drive the whole hard-bop movement and his extraordinary series of bands called the Jazz Messengers. Throughout his career, Blakey was a tireless advocate of the enduring values of bop, and he created a forum in which younger talents could flourish. There are some classic versions of bop standards here, like Dizzy Gillespie's "A Night in Tunisia," heard in a brilliant 1960 version, and Thelonious Monk's "Evidence," with Monk at the piano on a 1957 recording. There are also tunes by Blakey sidemen that would become standards themselves: pianist Bobby Timmons's "Moanin'" and Benny Golson's "Blues March," among them. In its peak years--the late 1950s and early '60s--the Messengers were a launching pad for brilliant players like trumpeters Lee Morgan and Freddie Hubbard and saxophonist Wayne Shorter. In its later versions, the Messengers even spurred the careers of younger traditionalists, including Wynton Marsalis. --Stuart Broomer

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb Collection, November 4, 2005

By 

Thomas D. Ryan "American Hit Network" (New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ken Burns JAZZ Collection: Art Blakey (Audio CD)

Yet another winner from the Ken Burns compilation series. Art Blakey's reputation as a master who constantly challenged himself and the young musicians whom he mentored is well-documented here. Songs like "Confirmation" and "Ms. B.C." smoke like fire on top of the burning rhythms he supplies. The disk also does a good job of capturing his more loose-limbed, relaxed side, on tracks like "Doodlin," and "Moanin'". Wayne Shorter, Horace Silver, Freddie Hubbard and even Wynton Marsalis appear here, all alumni of Blakey's Jazz Messengers, as does Thelonius Monk, on his own composition "Evidence." Like Miles Davis, Blakey had a knack for finding talent and developing them, so this disk makes for some very rewarding listening as his changing cast of characters push him to discover new ground, or relax and swing easy. A Tom Ryan

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Solid Rock, July 16, 2003

By 

Douglas LaRose (Santa Barbara, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ken Burns JAZZ Collection: Art Blakey (Audio CD)

If you are new to Art Blakey, there couldn't be a better place to start. This is indubitably my favorite installment of the Ken Burns Jazz series, with Charlie Parker being a close runner up. On top of that, this disc presents a very eclectic view of Art Blakey, from his slower numbers to the raging "Night In Tunisia" which is Blakey's best version and has become my favorite piece of jazz music of all time.

Blakey was the greatest hard bop drummer of all time, and "A Night in Tunisia" proves it. One cannot believe that a single man is producing so much rhythm simultaneously. Blakey always chose the best pickings from the pool of musicians who were on the scene, and I think he rivals Miles in his band leadership. The tightness is sometimes frightening.

But see for yourself, because you wont believe it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant introduction to a jazz giant, July 7, 2001

By 

G. Sawaged - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ken Burns JAZZ Collection: Art Blakey (Audio CD)

This album is a great introduction to the genius of Art Blakey. I knew very little about Art Blakey before I purchased this cd, and it sure has left me wanting to hear more. 9 great tracks covering the years 1954 to 1981 is certainly not enough, but understandably, not much more could be put onto a single cd. The tracks are all pretty long, ranging from 6 minutes to over 11 minutes. But what tracks they are! Plus, Blakey is joined by a veritable who's who of other jazz greats. The booklet contains a very informative essay on Blakey...wow, he was a husband and father at age 15, amazing! This album should belong in any jazz fans collection.