BLAKEY, ART

Art Blakey, considered by many to be the consummate bop drummer, cut his teeth in the musical melting pot that was the Billy Eckstine band of the 1940s. This band included such luminaries over the years as Miles Davis, Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. When it disbanded in 1947, Blakey set about organising his own big band, known initially as the 17 Messengers, which eventually morphed into the form we know today and one of the longest-lived names of any jazz group - The Jazz Messengers. The tracks on this 2CD overview of Blakey's early career run from the first Messengers sessions (featuring Kenny Dorham and Tiny Grimes), through to the Blue Note recordings of the early '50s that coalesced the style that was to become known as Hard Bop and indeed gave the Blue Note label its distinctive sound and identity. Included are cuts from the classic "Live At Birdland" sessions and just some of the featured musicians on this set include Clifford Brown, Horace Silver, Tadd Dameron, Howard McGhee, Tiny Grimes and Lou Donaldson.

Estimated despatch 21-30 days after ordering.