Although he's not often mentioned in the same breath as Miles Davis when it comes to talent scouting, over the years the late drummer Art Blakey employed some of the finest players in jazz history, including (among many others) trumpeters Freddie Hubbard and Wynton Marsalis; saxophonists Wayne Shorter, Jackie McLean, and Branford Marsalis; and pianists Horace Silver and Bobby Timmons. Blakey's Jazz Messengers at this 1976 gig at an Umbria, Italy jazz festival were not his most stellar, but there's no question that trumpeter Bill Hardman, tenor saxophonist David Schmitter, bassist Cameron Brown, and pianist Mickey Tucker were world-class players. What's more, the group had been together for some four years by this time, so their version of Blakey's signature “hard bop” sound was tight and powerful. Still, it's tough to keep your eyes and ears off the then-56-year-old timekeeper, whose explosive snare rolls, effortless dynamics and overwhelming ability to swing made him one of the greatest drummers of the past century. Add to that some familiar tunes from the Blakey canon (including “Along Came Betty” and “Blues March”) and a very cool outdoor setting (a typically appealing Italian piazza), and you have a performance that's highly recommended for serious jazz lovers. Aud: P. (S. Graham)
Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers
(2002) 61 min. DVD: $24.99. TDK (dist. by Naxos of America). Color cover. Volume 18, Issue 3
Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers
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