Live At The Village Vanguard – 1982
Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers
An uptempo romp by one of the best versions of the Jazz Messengers
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By 1982, veteran drummer Art Blakey had been leading the Jazz Messengers for 27 years.
The 1982 edition of Blakey’s group was one of the stronger ones, as can be heard during the passionate group playing on “In Case You Missed It” (which is a renamed version of “Fuller Love”) and on “Ms. B.C.”
The latter piece features a heated solo by the 20-year old trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, tenor-saxophonist Bill Pierce sounding quietly confident at the raging tempo, an explorative statement by Branford Marsalis on alto that is a little reminiscent of Wayne Shorter, and some swinging playing by pianist Donald Brown.
The result is some modern and torrid swinging.
Personnel:
Art Blakey, drums
Wynton Marsalis, trumpet
Branford Marsalis, alto
Bill Pierce, tenor
Donald Brown, piano
Charles Fambrough, bass
– Scott Yanow
Ella Fitzgerald