This page created by: George Heid
Art Blakey, master of the drums, leader of the music. A native of Pittsburgh, went to New York in 1938 with pianist Mary Lou Williams. Later left Mary Lou to
join Fletcher Henderson where he earned his wings, he was soon off to join the
Billy Eckstine band along with Charlie Parker and Sarah Vaughan. After his stint
with Mr. "B" Art went on to form the 17 Messengers which would develop over
the years into the Jazz Messengers, which included some of the finest musicians
that would influence the music; Clifford Brown, Horace Silver, Wayne Shorter,
Lee Morgan, Freddie Hubbard, Etc.. Art would also perform as a sideman for
some of the most important musicians in the business.
Art Blakey’s name has become synonymous with hard drive and pulsating
excitement. He was a musician who believed that a jazz group should be a solid
cohesive unit, not just "five guys blowing on the same changes." What made the
Jazz Messengers different, was that the rhythm section did not just play time
behind the horns, they backed up the horn section solidly and would set up the
soloist, who in turn would listen and pick up cues that would be thrown
his way.
Those press rolls, that sock cymbal, his imaginative ride, the cohesiveness and
form of his solo’s, and most of all his ears; how he could listen to the band as
a whole and as individuals. This is why any musician who came out of his school
would always say that they never sounded as good they did when they had Art
lighting that fire underneath them.
