Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers
Jazz Messengers(180Gm)

The Jazz Messengers was recorded for Columbia in the spring of 1956. At this time the collective comprised saxophonist Hank Mobley, trumpeter Donald Byrd, Horace Silver on piano, bassist Doug Watkins and of course drummer/ percussionist Art Blakey. A more lyrical front-line would be hard to find. They excel on the original version of Silver’s ‘Nica’s Dream’ in its 11 minute full glory. Blakey is in full flight on ‘Hank’s Symphony’, which is four minutes of Hard Bop heaven. Byrd and Mobley gel superbly throughout but especially on ‘Infra-Red’ and ‘Carol’s Interlude’ mixing improvisational skill, swing and a soulfulness. Silver seems effortlessly in his fusion of differing styles of Jazz piano, from joyous rag-time, Ellington’s melodic sensibilities and solid grooving. And all combined with a Latin inflection.