Jazz aficionados are well acquainted with the name Art Blakey, a renowned 20th Century bebop/hard bop drummer from Pittsburgh who teamed with jazz pianist Horace Silver (from Norwalk) in 1954 to form ...

We start our salute to Art Blakey with a recording he made in 1955, when he was co-leader of the band Horace Silver and The Jazz Messengers. Pianist Silver wrote "The Preacher," and the band was ...

Blakey led his band for almost 40 years, making many classic records with top musicians. Just Coolin', a newly unearthed 1959 recorded studio session, showcases his stylistic precision. This is FRESH ...

Art Blakey was not the first musician to declare: "I always wanted to be regarded as one of the greatest drummers in the world," as he did in a 1984 San Diego Union interview. (The full interview ...

Although they were somewhat late to the vinyl renaissance game, Craft Records has made up for lost time by tapping a wide range of music. From the Latin strains of Fania Records to the so-called acid ...

WILLIAMSTOWN — George Cables remembers the night of his first gig with Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers. It was 1969 and the 24-year-old piano player had just joined the group at the recommendation of ...

Wayne Shorter's first studio album with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers was recorded on November 10, 1959. Two of the six songs on the date were originals by the tenor saxophonist. Then the album ...

Art Blakey was born 100 years ago, on Oct. 11, 1919, and America's homegrown music — jazz — might not sound quite like it does today if it weren't for the influence of the late drummer. "I would call ...

Jazz drummer Art Blakey brought a propulsive, irresistible swing to his playing, an intensity that drove his ensembles like dry leaves before the wild hurricane. “He was a volcano,” said Gordon ...