Category: SACD

Title: Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers – Moanin (1958) [Analogue Productions 2009] 
Genre: Jazz
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Moanin’ includes some of the greatest music Blakey produced in the studio with arguably his very best band. There are three tracks that are immortal and will always stand the test of time. The title selection is a pure tuneful melody stewed in a bluesy shuffle penned by pianist Bobby Timmons, while tenor saxophonist Benny Golson’s classy, slowed “Along Came Betty” and the static, militaristic “Blues March” will always have a home in the repertoire of every student or professional jazz band. “Are You Real?” has the most subtle of melody lines, and “Drum Thunder Suite” has Blakey’s quick blasting tom-tom-based rudiments reigning on high as the horns sigh, leading to hard bop. “Come Rain or Come Shine” is the piece that commands the most attention, a highly modified, lilting arrangement where the accompanying staggered, staccato rhythms contrast the light-hearted refrains. Certainly a complete and wholly satisfying album, Moanin’ ranks with the very best of Blakey and what modern jazz offered in the late ’50s and beyond.

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Title: Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers – Caravan (1963) [Reissue 2004]
Genre: Jazz
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Art Blakey’s Caravan, the first of his Riverside albums recorded in 1962, showcases one of the strongest Jazz Messengers lineups, featuring Freddie Hubbard (trumpet), Wayne Shorter (tenor sax), Curtis Fuller (trombone), Cedar Walton (piano), and Reggie Workman (bass), delivering unmatched musicianship and swinging force. Blakey, the group’s spiritual leader for nearly 15 years, drives the quintet with his signature blend of precision and power, most notably in his explosive solo on the fiery title track, a reimagined Duke Ellington piece. Hubbard and Shorter contribute memorable originals like the cohesive “Sweet ‘n’ Sour” and angular “Thermo,” while their soloing, alongside Fuller and Walton, ranks among the 1960s’ finest. The album’s synergy shines in both the sophisticated standards “Skylark” and “In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning” and the dynamic originals “This Is for Albert” and “Sweet ‘n’ Sour.” Remastered in 2001 with two bonus tracks (alternate takes of “Sweet ‘n’ Sour” and “Thermo”), this SACD release captures the definitive Blakey and Jazz Messengers sound with vibrant clarity, making it a cornerstone of hard bop.

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Title: Art Blakey – Art Blakey! Jazz Messengers! (1961) [APO Remaster 2011]
Genre: Jazz
Format: SACD ISO

An absolutely wonderful 1961 set from Blakey and company, who demonstrate here how to be note-perfect without leeching away the emotion of a performance. Aside from Blakey’s divine drum work, the standouts include Jaymie Merritt’s trippy bass fingerwork and Wayne Shorter blowing his heart out on tenor sax.

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Title: Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers – Keystone 3 (1982) [Reissue 2003]
Genre: Jazz
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Art Blakey’s Keystone 3, a live recording from San Francisco’s Keystone Korner in the late ’70s to early ’80s, captures one of his finest Jazz Messengers lineups, featuring the dynamic swing of Blakey’s drumming alongside young talents Donald Brown (piano), Charles Fambrough (bass), Branford Marsalis (alto, tenor, soprano sax), Wynton Marsalis (trumpet), and Bill Pierce (tenor sax). This third live album, honored with two Grammy nominations for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance (Group and Solo), showcases a tight, ultra-melodic ensemble, with a formidable front line debuting Branford alongside Wynton and Pierce, replacing earlier members like Curtis Fuller and Bobby Watson. Highlights include a rousing “In Walked Bud” with Wynton’s growling solo and Branford’s Parker-esque lyricism, Pierce’s tender “In a Sentimental Mood,” the energetic 6/8 “Fuller Love,” the dynamic “Waterfall” with Wynton’s double-timed solo, and a precise, tension-filled “A La Mode.” Presented in stellar SACD sound by Concord Jazz, this recording ranks among Blakey’s best, highlighting his commanding rhythm and the Marsalis brothers’ emerging brilliance.

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