Art Blakey Albums (108)
'Quicksilver Live at Birdland NYC'
Release Date 1/1/2005
Tracks 10
Label Back Up
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What The Critics Say
Art Blakey's Quicksilver Live at Birdland NYC is simply an import release of Blue Note's A Night at Birdland, Vol. 2. It's got a decent slipcase, but as to whether it's an authorized reissue or not is difficult to tell. The disc is readily in print in the United States. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide
'Live at Sweet Basil: Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers'
Release Date 11/2/2004
Tracks 4
Label King Japan
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What The Critics Say
This excellent all-around session showcases the 1985 edition of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, a band that boasted such fine young soloists as trumpeter Terence Blanchard, altoist Donald Harrison, tenor saxophonist Jean Toussaint and pianist Mulgrew Miller. In addition to Harrison's "Mr. Babe" and Walter Davis's "Jodi," the ensemble successfully updates two Jazz Messenger classics: "Blues March" and "Moanin'." ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
'The Birthday Concert'
Release Date 4/1/2003
Tracks 15
Label Universe
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'Au Au Club St Germain, Vol. 3'
Release Date 12/10/2002
Tracks 4
Label Japanese Victor Co.
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'Au Au Club St Germain, Vol. 2'
Release Date 12/10/2002
Tracks 4
Label Japanese Victor Co.
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'Au Au Club St Germain, Vol. 1'
Release Date 12/10/2002
Tracks 4
Label Japanese Victor Co.
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'Jazzbuhne Berlin '80'
Release Date 11/18/2002
Tracks 7
Label Repertoire
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What The Critics Say
This hourlong live performance by Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers probably comes from a tape made for radio broadcast for East Berlin radio in 1980. With a potent lineup that included pianist James Williams, alto saxophonist Bobby Watson, tenor saxophonist Bill Pierce, trumpeter Valery Ponomarev, and bassist Charles Fambrough (all of whom became leaders in their own right following their stints with Blakey), every track is played with the enthusiasm and sincerity that the drummer demanded. It's too bad that the issuing label didn't apply the same standards to the packaging of this CD. The nearly 12-minute track listed as "Lift Every Voice and Sing" is actually a medley of that famous hymn and "Gypsy Folk Tales." The third selection is not "Gypsy Folk Tales" but likely a composition by Bobby Watson or another Blakey alum. Finally, the well-known "The Theme" (also known as "52nd Street Theme") is listed incorrectly as "Theme Song" by Benny Golson, while the bassist Charles Fambrough's name is badly misspelled. Such carelessness should not deter anyone from searching from this otherwise excellent live CD. ~ Ken Dryden, All Music Guide
'Jazz in Paris: Jazz & Cinéma, Vol. 2'
Release Date 7/16/2002
Tracks 24
Label Sunnyside
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What The Critics Say
This compilation in the Verve Jazz in Paris reissue series gathers three separate recording sessions originally issued on various French EP discs. The first four tracks were recorded for the movie Les Tricheurs, with Oscar Peterson, Herb Ellis, Ray Brown, and Gus Johnson backing various horn soloists. The title track is a blues, composed on the spot, featuring Stan Getz and Roy Eldridge; the trumpeter easily wins the solo battle as Getz is a bit sloppy with several reed squeaks during his chance. Coleman Hawkins, Dizzy Gillespie, and Eldridge each are individually featured performing originals with the rhythm section, with Gillespie taking top honors for his driving bop tune "Mic's Jump." The 1958 edition of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, including Lee Morgan and Benny Golson in the front line, are featured in 18 mostly brief tracks from the soundtrack to Les Femmes Disparaissent, with music composed by Blakey and Golson. Because of their brevity and separation from the film, most of the selections don't stand that well on their own. The music is occasionally interesting but, as a whole, not exciting enough to interest the vast majority of Art Blakey fans. The final two songs represent only a part of the music recorded for the Roger Vadim film La Bride sur le Cou. The compositions by James Campbell are not that impressive; the introduction to "La Bride sur le Cou" is almost identical to the theme of the standard "My Old Flame," while the hard bop tune "Brigitte Strip Blues" is rather generic. The all-French quintet, which includes pianist Georges Arvanitas, tenor saxophonist François Jeanneau, and Bernard Vitet on flügelhorn, seems to be going through the motions. Overall, this CD is one of the more disappointing titles in the generally laudable Jazz in Paris series. ~ Ken Dryden, All Music Guide
'Live: Olympia 5-13-61, Pt. 3'
Release Date 9/4/2001
Tracks 6
Label Trema
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