Art Blakey

[Drummer_Boy]

Wow. I'm surprised nobody has started a thread about Art Blakey. I don't think so anyways..But yeah. I like Art Blakey. He did some real good stuff. The Jazz Messengers was some real good stuff. How do you like him? Art Blakey is an awesome drummer, and an awesome band leader I think.

Art Blakey page on DrummerWorld (http://www.drummerworld.com/drummers/Art_Blakey.html)

[theduke86]

Great drummer. Always balls to the wall and completely intense. I didn't think he was the most subtle, but he could swing a band like no one else. I should check him out more.

[Bernhard]

The perfect Solo in size and style - as stated by Bill Hart:

http://www.drummerworld.com/Sound/artblakeydigthisperfect.mp3

Bernhard

[Scatman]

I loved those huge press rolls Art used to play Picked up the band immensley

[centralzeke]

Wow, what an awesome solo! Makes me want to practice my singles!!

[TOMANO]

Blakey's playing was ALIVE...breathing and ON FIRE!!! Hearing the Jazz Messengers' Free For All album was a turning point in my life. One of my favorite drummers and an incredible contributor to the world of Jazz...Art Blakey!

TOMANO

[Superlow]

Great drummer. Always balls to the wall and completely intense. I didn't think he was the most subtle, but he could swing a band like no one else. I should check him out more.

I disagree, I think his work outside of the Jazz messengers is very subtle. Pick up Soul Station by Hank Mobley and Something Else by Cannoball Adderley, very tasteful playing on that. Also His self titled record on Impulse is wonderful, better than a lot of records on The Blue Note lable.

[jangus]

LOoove it. He had the most amazing buzz rolls ever.

I was told by my drum teacher that he was actually taught by Chick Webb. Is there any truth to this?

[Zardoz]

This guy only has 7 responses. Wow.

My first Art Blakey experience was listening to 'Freedom Rider' (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000005GVL/ref=m_art_li_14/104-2691653-3847926?s=music&v=glance&n=5174). I was pretty new to jazz at that time, but his playing blew me away. So energetic and thunderous.

[theduke86]

I disagree, I think his work outside of the Jazz messengers is very subtle. Pick up Soul Station by Hank Mobley and Something Else by Cannoball Adderley, very tasteful playing on that. Also His self titled record on Impulse is wonderful, better than a lot of records on The Blue Note lable.
I didn't mean untasteful, just not subtle- there's a difference! Lots of stuff on the beat.

[Stu_Strib]

Art Blakey is one of the very few drummers in this world that you just know it is them after the first few bars!

[Pete Stoltman]

Next to Miles Davis, Art probably allowed more new young guys to get their start in jazz. Funny, I love listening to Blakey but when I watch videos of him playing he seems somewhat awkward to me. I wish I could be that awkward!

[DirtyJazz03]

"Next to Miles Davis, Art probably allowed more new young guys to get their start in jazz. Funny, I love listening to Blakey but when I watch videos of him playing he seems somewhat awkward to me. I wish I could be that awkward!"


This is one of the reasons I really respect Art. I had the pleasure of playing a gig with a famous saxophonist by the name of Javon Jackson who was a young and upcoming player when Art was getting big. Mr. Blakey recruited Javon when he was ripe out of Berklee College Of Music. When I got the chance to talk to Mr. Jackson he made it clear that Blakey was a huge inspiration in his life. Art was a big stepping stone for a lot of great players. I really wish I could have had the chance to see him play before his passing.

[stumprrp]

I love watching that art video on his DW page, and i just got one of his albums, now i know where he got the name buzz roll master, HOLY CRAP i want to buzz like that.

[Womble]

Two things that really annoy me from my time at LAMA:

1) In a music listening class, we heard a piano trio recording with Art Blakey. It was about 6 or 7 minutes long, and Art basically didn't comp at all. All he did was play the standard ride pattern and the hats on 2 and 4. And my GOD the intensity he built up was ridiculous. His hi-hat was so damn cutting, I was almost in a trance by the end of it. It was phenomenal to listen to. The awful thing is, I can't remember what the track or album was, not even the name of the pianist.

2) At a friend's house one evening, I was played an Art Blakey solo. I can't really remember anything about this solo, but I remember that I thought 'I have never heard anyone play the drums like this'. I would kill to hear that solo again, but as you've guessed, I can't remember where it was from.

Frustrating to say the least.

[jrule]

Two things that really annoy me from my time at LAMA:

1) In a music listening class, we heard a piano trio recording with Art Blakey. It was about 6 or 7 minutes long, and Art basically didn't comp at all. All he did was play the standard ride pattern and the hats on 2 and 4. And my GOD the intensity he built up was ridiculous. His hi-hat was so damn cutting, I was almost in a trance by the end of it. It was phenominal to listen to. The awful thing is, I can't remember what the track or album was, not even the name of the pianist.

By your description my guess is "Moanin".

[Womble]

Nah, I own Moanin'. This was a piano trio, not a Jazz Messengers recording. But thanks, and any other suggestion are more than welcome.

[Drad-dog]

Try Bobby Timmons "This Here is Bobby Timmons." Great trio recording featuring Blakey. Another trio album with Blakey was "Horace Silver Trio."

Did you guys know that Blakey started out as a pianist?

[Jookbox]

i got a night in tunisia a few months ago. really blew me away. the title track is so amazing.

[bigbeatbenny]

There is a good book out of Blakey transcriptions... "Art Blakey's Jazz Messages". Check it out.

[0cean]

He is beyond amazing. This guy is an amazing drummer and an amazing writer/conductor. He's the leader of the Jazz Messengers. This man knows what he's doing. What do you all think?

[SqueakySpeedKing]

I concur wholheartedly. He is very powerful w/o being drumistic. I'm glad he switched from piano to the drums and created such a huge volume of work and brilliant music to learn from and enjoy.

[Ashton Drum's]

Art Blakey once said a quote I really like

"Drummers should stop looking at other drummers’ equipment and say, I’m going to duplicate that.’ It doesn’t matter what kind of instrument the drummer has. It isn’t the instrument, it’s the musician." Art Blakey

[Flam_Paradiddle]

I'm a massive Blakey fan, my favourite is the album the Jazz Messangers did with Monk. Bloody amazing. Does anyone find that the percussion played on Night in Tunisia is all over the place, and, dare I say it, a bit crap?

[Superlow]

I'm a massive Blakey fan, my favourite is the album the Jazz Messangers did with Monk. Bloody amazing. Does anyone find that the percussion played on Night in Tunisia is all over the place, and, dare I say it, a bit crap?

I found a Night in Tunisa a bit all over the map as Well. My favorite Blakey Album is the self Titled Jazz Messengers one he put out on Implulse. The recording quality is superb and the musicians are his best. I own the Monk and Blakey album, I find there is too much space created from T Monk on that one. "In walked bud" is a phenominal song though. If you like Blakey I highly recommend , Freedom Rider, Roll Call (Hank Mobley), and Soul Station (Hank Mobley).

[jangus]

1) In a music listening class, we heard a piano trio recording with Art Blakey. It was about 6 or 7 minutes long, and Art basically didn't comp at all. All he did was play the standard ride pattern and the hats on 2 and 4. And my GOD the intensity he built up was ridiculous. His hi-hat was so damn cutting, I was almost in a trance by the end of it. It was phenomenal to listen to. The awful thing is, I can't remember what the track or album was, not even the name of the pianist.

Sounds like Moanin' on the album Moanin' written by the pianist Bobby Timmons.

[Pocketman]

Art was a hard swinging, no BS drummer. But in addition to that, he was the most important small jazz group leader of all time. The Jazz Messengers gave rise to more prominent jazz musicians than any other group.

[Womble]

Sounds like Moanin' on the album Moanin' written by the pianist Bobby Timmons.

See my message #17!! But thanks for trying.

[stepan jazzy]

Art Blakey is one of the greatest drummers of all time!! His aggressive swing made him an important stylist in drums.
"Kenny Clarke was the Godfather, Max was the painter to put the colors together; Art was the volcano!" - Dizzy Gillespie.

[blade123]

I love the guy. He practically got me into jazz (Moanin')

[rendezvous_drummer]

I love the guy. He practically got me into jazz (Moanin')
Same here, exactly word for word.

[volvoguy]

I'm a massive Blakey fan, my favourite is the album the Jazz Messangers did with Monk. Bloody amazing. Does anyone find that the percussion played on Night in Tunisia is all over the place, and, dare I say it, a bit crap?

Are you nuts? This track is amazing. This is what *music* is.

-Ryan

[Grooverider]

Art is my biggest influence, I even have his photo on a t-shirt. :)

[blade123]

Bump.
I was reading somewhere that in order to get into a drummer's head, you need to check out what your idol was listening to. I have looked online and have yet to find out who his idols were, any help?