Straight Ahead

Art Blakey | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 1, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Concord Records
• ASIN: B0000006DQ
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #448,012 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Falling in Love With Love

2. My Romance

3. Webb City

4. How Deep Is the Ocean?

5. E.T.A.

6. The Theme

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars The Second Finest Messengers?, January 20, 2012

By 

jazz lover since 1960 (Tampa, Fl. and Franklin, NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Straight Ahead (Audio CD)

Wynton Marsalis was 20 years old when this was recorded live at the Keystone Korner in San Francisco in June 1981. I can't help but believe that Wynton energized Art and the rest of the group. He was not only trumpet soloist, but also music director. He was responsible for programming the sets, rehearsing the band, arranging tunes. The recording crew mention how impressed they were by Wynton's preparations, somewhat unusual in jazz recordings.
If you don't believe me, this recording was a finalist for the Best Jazz Instrumental Performance in the 1981 Grammy Awards, and in Leonard Feather's "Golden Feather" awards for 1981.
So you know you are in for something special. And indeed this recording is. It is my nomination for the second greatest group that Art ever led. The greatest has to be the Freddie Hubbard, Wayne Shorter group that recorded the masterpiece "Free For All" and other recordings. Some would say that Art's groups with Lee Morgan and others are as good. It is hard to argue with them, but this is my opinion.
Listen to the group play standards like "Falling In Love With Love" and "How Deep Is The Ocean." It doesn't get any better than this. Besides Wynton's masterful solos, I especially want to highlight altoist, Bobby Watson and James Williams, the groups pianist. The latter has a piano trio feature on "My Romance."
Wow! I could listen to Wynton's trumpet solo on "How Deep Is the Ocean" again and again!