Art Blakey
Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers - Ritual
The first stable formation of Art Blakey’s celebrated Jazz Messengers was born in 1954 and consisted of Kenny Dorham, Hank Mobley, Horace Silver and Doug Watkins, the same group that recorded the Blue Note LP ‘Jazz Messengers at the Cafe Bohemia’ in November of 1955.
Although this 1957 date (Ritual!) didn’t feature such a star-studded group as the 1955 aggregation, with a Blakey extended drum solo and the hard and impas-sioned blowing of alto saxophonist Jackie McLean, it makes for an essential addition to any Art Blakey collection.
Personnel: Art Blakey- drums, Bill Hardman- trumpet, Jackie McLean- alto sax, Sam Dockery- piano, Spanky DeBrest- bass. Recorded 1957
Tracks: Sam’s Tune / Scotch Blues / Once Upon A Groove / Comments By Blakey / Ritual / Touche / Wake Up