Customer Reviews

Ugetsu

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'll agree with the other two reviewers that Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers' "Ugetsu" is a five star CD, but I thought it would be helpful to provide to some specifics about this recording. "Ugetsu" was recorded live at Birdland on June 16, 1963, and is one of three albums made for the Riverside label ("Caravan" and "Kyoto" are the other two) during a two year hiatus from Blue Note. The personnel is the same as on the classic Blue Note "Free For All" -- Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Wayne Shorter on tenor sax, Curtis Fuller on trombone, Cedar Walton on piano, Reggie Workman on bass and the great Blakey on the drum throne. The sound is excellent (though not as quite as good as the "Three Blind Mice" volumes), and unlike many live jazz dates that just showcase live versions of songs from other albums, the material on "Ugetsu" is unique to the Messengers' discography (except for "Ping Pong" and "The Theme"). The CD features three bonus tracks (7-9), and they are as good as anything else from the session, with the exception of the title-track which is by far the disc's best composition. In all, fans of Blakey's Blue Notes will thoroughly enjoy "Ugetsu."

The essence of New York hard bop by the group that brought the genre to it's pinnacle. The band sounds relaxed and at home in the club that Art Blakey dubbed his favorite venue. Brief introductory comments by Blakey and Birdland's diminutive M.C. Peewee Marquette's raspy glass-shattering voice contribute to the high-energy atmosphere that often reigned at jazzdom's most famous Mecca.

Soaring solos and tight ensemble playing mark this 1963 Messenger live performance. The well-disciplined edition of the group obviously enjoyed their free-spirited romp playing energized up-tempo numbers as well as two elegantly executed ballads.

An essential all-star group at the height of their power, sounding as fresh today as they did on the night of June l6, 1963.

I agree with the reviewer from Newark. I picked up Ugetsu a few days ago and can't stop playing it. This is my first Blakey CD and certainly not my last. I will also be looking for something by Cedar Walton. His composition (the title track) and his piano playing are wonderful. Everyone else in the group is quite good too. Buy it.

I think this album has been overlooked as a jazz classic. It is way ahead of it's time musically and sonically. I think it rates up there with anything that Coltrane or Davis were doing at that time.
Once you start playing it, you just can't turn it off and that's the mark of a good album! 'Ugetsu','Ping Pong','On the Ginza' are my favorite tracks. Album has that great 'Live' jazz sound.

I was nervous at first about this disk, thinking that a Riverside recording would in some way be inferior to a Blue Note. Still the disk was on sale and I figured with Wayne Shorter and Freddie Hubbard, you couldn't go wrong. What a great disk! The sound was remarkably good considering it was live. The adddition of trombone to Trumpet and Sax give certain passage a really muscular sounding horn section that you usually don't get from the Messengers.

Only minor complaint is that it is hard to hear the Piano. Have no fear, this vintage Blakey live at Birdland, it doesn't get any better than this.

This is the second of Art Blakey's 2 superb Jazz Messenger lineup, with the freewheeling Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, the thoughtful Wayne Shorter on tenor, the always solid Curtis Fuller on the bone, Cedar Walton on piano, Reggie Workman on Bass, and the "old man of the band," Art Blakey, as stellar as always.

Live recordings have always been my favorite, and this is is no exception. The band is in peak form, giving classic performances especially on Ugetsu, Time Off and On the Ginza. Freddie Hubbard steals the show solo-wise, but the album is special for the superb compositions by Shorter (One by One, On the Gina, Eva) Curtis Fuller (Time Off, The High Priest) and Cedar Walton (Ping Pong and the title track, the magnificent and beautiful "Ugetsu.) The writing is really first rate, a hall-mark of almost all Art Blakey units, and the band really comes together, with contrastring solos by all involved, and the best accompaniant could want from Workman and Blakey. If you are a fan of Blakey, get this album (I waited too long before buying it) and if not yet, this is a great start to a collection (though the album "Moanin'" should be your first.
It's great hard bop that swings, is bluesy, and yet bespeaks of a certain sophistication all at the same time. Highly recommended.

I Would Recommend that all Jazz lovers buy this album. This Album along with Mosaic is My favorite Blakey album by far. The Messengers are on top of their game and for a live recording the sound is absolutely beautiful. I believe that even though everyone plays exceptionally well on this album, it shows Hubbard's colors in particular. On the whole album Hubbard's sound is incredibly pure and all lines are played cleanly. Excellent writing and perfect execution make this album a must have.

I heard a selection from the album on Sirius radio and just had to find it. I was happy when I found it on Amazon. Not only was the song I heard on Sirius great, the whole album is.

This recording features a front line horn section of Curtis Fuller, Wayne Shorter, and Freddie Hubbard. All are very exciting. Blakey and Workman do a fine job. The tunes are unusual and Cedar Walton adds some wonderful material. I think the Walton is often under-rated. Get this record. You will not regret it. It is every bit as good as any of Blakey's best Blue Note recordings from the 1960's.

If don't have any in your collection, this ablum is a great place to start, if you are a fan already, than you should add this to your collection.