Search - Art Blakey :: Ugetsu

Jazz Messenger nectar

Joseph P. Reel | Pacific Grove, California United States | 08/04/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The essence of New York hard bop by the group that brought the genre to it's pinnacle. The band sounds relaxed and at home in the club that Art Blakey dubbed his favorite venue. Brief introductory comments by Blakey and Birdland's diminutive M.C. Peewee Marquette's raspy glass-shattering voice contribute to the high-energy atmosphere that often reigned at jazzdom's most famous Mecca.



Soaring solos and tight ensemble playing mark this 1963 Messenger live performance. The well-disciplined edition of the group obviously enjoyed their free-spirited romp playing energized up-tempo numbers as well as two elegantly executed ballads.



An essential all-star group at the height of their power, sounding as fresh today as they did on the night of June l6, 1963.

"

Wow

Steve E. Martin | Port Orchard, WA | 06/17/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was nervous at first about this disk, thinking that a Riverside recording would in some way be inferior to a Blue Note. Still the disk was on sale and I figured with Wayne Shorter and Freddie Hubbard, you couldn't go wrong. What a great disk! The sound was remarkably good considering it was live. The adddition of trombone to Trumpet and Sax give certain passage a really muscular sounding horn section that you usually don't get from the Messengers.



Only minor complaint is that it is hard to hear the Piano. Have no fear, this vintage Blakey live at Birdland, it doesn't get any better than this."