Customer Reviews

Three Blind Mice 1

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"Three Blind Mice Volume 1" (and 2 for that matter) were originally live recordings made for the United Artists label. They were made in March '62 on the heels of the magnificent Blue Notes "Mosaic" and "Buhaina's Delight," and with the same personnel. If you love those two albums mentioned above, then this is more of the same cup of tea. Some of the music we've heard before -- "Plexis" was on Freddie Hubbard's "Hub Cap" and "Children of the Night" was on "Mosaic" -- but this band could breath fresh life into anything. Speaking of which, only the Jazz Messengers could make "Three Blind Mice" swing and at the same time make it into a creative arrangement for a three horn frontline. Great stuff from a great time.

Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers
[Personnel]:
Freddie Hubbard-trumpet
Wayne Shorter-tenor
Curtis Fuller-Trombone
Cedar Walton-piano
Jymie Merritt-bass
Art Blakey-drums

|Vol.1|
{Tune List}:*{This is the tune list for both Vol.1 and Vol.II}
'Three Blind Mice'(trad.)|Arranged by Curtis Fuller|
'Blue Moon'(Rogers/Hart) |Arranged by Wayne Shorter|
'That Old Feeling'(Sammy Fain/Lew Brown)
'When The Lights Are Low'(Benny Carter)
'Children Of The Night'(Wayne Shorter)|Arranged by Wayne Shorter

Vol.11 #|Tracks #4/#5 were recorded at the Village Gate in NYC in 1961
'It's Only A Paper Moon'(B.Rose/E.Y.Hubert/H.Arlen)|Arranged by Lee Morgan|
'Mosaic'(Roger/Hart)|Arranged by Wayne Shorter|
'Ping Pong'(Wayne Shorter)|Arranged by Wayne Shorter
'Promised Land'(Cedar Walton)|Arranged by Cedar Walton|
'Arabia'(Cedar Walton)|Arranged by Cedar Walton|

{Arthur 'Art' Blakey(October 11 1919-1990)}





Over a period of four decades Art Blakey provided a virtual institution for young and talented musicians coming up the ranks.The Jazz Messengers were born when Art Blakey and his 'kindred spirit' Horace Silver formed a band in 1953.By 1956 Silver left to form his own unit and the leadership of this important band passed to Blakey.From 1961 the group featured Wayne Shorter(tenor sax),Lee Morgan(trumpet),Bobby Timmons(piano),Jymie Merritt(bass),and Art Blakey(drums).In 1962 Curtis Fuller (trombone)was added as a third horn on the front line,and Freddie Hubbard(trumpet)replaced Lee Morgan(trumpet,and Cedar Walton(piano)replaced Bobby Timmons(piano).
This live recording at the Rennaissance is one of the best this group ever performed.Everyone contributes some compositions and arrangements for the occasion,and also really get a chance to stretch out and strut their stuff.These are exceptional recordings,and the bands tight arrangements and consistently superb soloing throughout make this a joy to listen to.It doesn't get much better than this.I wanted to include credits for both volumes in one review,and I hope that is not confusing.

Just the lineup on this live recording from a small club in 1962 Hollywood is enough to justify adding the cd to your collection. With Blakey (obviously) on drums, Wayne Shorter (tenor sax), Freddie Hubbard (trumpet), Curtis Fuller (trombone), Cedar Walton (piano), and Jymie Merritt on bass, the old English nursery rhyme takes on a new persona as a vehicle for what may have been the ultimate roster of Blakey's Jazz Messengers. What's so refreshing about this, and many other of Blakey's combinations of players in the long history of the Messengers, is the lack of egos that demand singular attention; yet the solo time taken by Shorter, Hubbard, et.al., is rich with the virtuosity that would take many of Blakey's players to great heights on their own, including Bird and Miles. The only problem is, you may get hooked and want to buy all of Art Blakey's albums, which are too numerous to list; one thing's for sure, you won't be disappointed. Also recommended:Freddie Hubbard Red Clay, Miles Davis In a Silent Way, Charlie Parker[[ASIN:B000001EEL Bird's Best Bop on Verve]], and Wayne Shorter Classic Blue Note Recordings