Art Blakey
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Dr_Watso
Platinum Member
Really identify with this myself too.
Art signed my bass drum head in '76. I never missed a show when he was in Minneapolis. Art got the Messengers over with the audience like none I'd seen before. He worked the crowd, entertained them, loved them. And they loved him. And he did it all without pandering shit music to win them over. He just won them over with his talent.
GretschedHive
Gold Member
I was listening to Roots & Herbs on Friday. And I'm nodding my head, because how can you not? and I wonder who the frontline is. It's the Jazz Messengers, so it's certain to be at least good if not positively brilliant, but they also had so many different lineups that it's hard to keep them straight. So I always check who’s on a given record: who’s playing trumpet, who’s on sax, who’s the bassist, and so on. And hey! It's Lee Morgan! And Wayne Shorter! Fantastic.
And as I almost do, pretty much without exception and definitely without thinking, I look to see who the absolutely killer drummer is.
Which, surprise surprise, is Art Blakey. Because of course it is. It always is. ’cuz it’s his damn band.
Every time. Sheesh.
And as I almost do, pretty much without exception and definitely without thinking, I look to see who the absolutely killer drummer is.
Which, surprise surprise, is Art Blakey. Because of course it is. It always is. ’cuz it’s his damn band.
Every time. Sheesh.
Art always ducked any mention of technique. "I just beat the hell out of them," etc. But he was master of these rudiments: The press roll (unsurpassed); the four-stroke ruff (played it all the time); the double paradiddle (played the accents on the cymbals with the bass drum reinforcing them; flams; single strokes (super fast triplets). He learned some of the rudiments from Chick Webb and Kenny Clark.
toddbishop
Platinum Member
Blakey's story about his first lesson with Chick Webb:
Second lesson with Chick Webb:
Second lesson with Chick Webb:
Art was my God. I went to every show he played in the Twin Cities in the 70s and 80s. He had so much charisma, charm, and the Messengers got over with even squares, who didn't normally listen to, much less, like, jazz. Art was fearless, unrelenting, knew how to find the promising musicians, and played with so much love and passion that he infected his audiences with an apprecition of the swing feel. No one like Art Blakey.
Totigerus
Well-known Member
Was it from one of the Horace Silver Trio solo albums? I freaking love those
.Gretsch Drum Night at Birdland
I always laugh when he calls Philly Joe a "Show-off" !
jda
Diamond Member
1st five tracks here
www.youtube.com
en.wikipedia.org
(that's one Max Lp and one Art Lp Tough! both from 1957+/- combined in one package called Percussion Discussion)
Track 3 "Transfiguration" i think is the fastest -the mambo sections- I ever heard anyone play.
I've had this twin /Lp/ for 30 years) the Max Max! section is good too
Max Roach, Art Blakey & Kenny Dorham - 1957 - Percussion Discussion
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Tough! - Wikipedia
(that's one Max Lp and one Art Lp Tough! both from 1957+/- combined in one package called Percussion Discussion)
Track 3 "Transfiguration" i think is the fastest -the mambo sections- I ever heard anyone play.
I've had this twin /Lp/ for 30 years) the Max Max! section is good too
Last edited:
Alex Sanguinetti
Silver Member
I have been transcribing Art Blakey since 1972, and teach his style from those transcriptions to all students that are interested. I´ve seen him live a number of times and in one ocasion was very briefly introduced to him, at North Sea Jazz Festival in Holland (around 1989).
"Mrs Blakey´one and only bambino", was amazing "comper" and soloist, with a very unique style, the most individual probably of the bebop period.
Here is an article and transcription I did for a drum magazine in 1992 (I did every month a different drummer for about a year).
"Mrs Blakey´one and only bambino", was amazing "comper" and soloist, with a very unique style, the most individual probably of the bebop period.
Here is an article and transcription I did for a drum magazine in 1992 (I did every month a different drummer for about a year).
Alain Rieder
Silver Member
I saw him live twice!
Mari_DrumTranscriptions
New Member
Hi! My name is Mariano
I've transcribed several Art Blakey's drum solos on different albums, and made a collection of 32 Art Blakey licks.
I've taken the phrases I like the most, trying not to take similar licks.
There is also a mini-guide on the bottom of the PDF about how to create you OWN vocabulary, starting from one of the phrases.
I've decided to give it to you for FREE! Please, check it out and let me some feedback, good or bad, I want it all!
Thank You!
I've transcribed several Art Blakey's drum solos on different albums, and made a collection of 32 Art Blakey licks.
I've taken the phrases I like the most, trying not to take similar licks.
There is also a mini-guide on the bottom of the PDF about how to create you OWN vocabulary, starting from one of the phrases.
I've decided to give it to you for FREE! Please, check it out and let me some feedback, good or bad, I want it all!
Thank You!