Art Blakey - At The Jazz Corner Of The World Vol. 1 '1959 [1993]

Tracks list

At the Jazz Corner of the World is a two-volume live album by American jazz
drummer Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, featuring performances recorded in
1959 at Birdland and released on the Blue Note label. The album was originally
issued as 12-inch LPs in two volumes and later re-released as a two-CD set.
Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers of 1959 were hitting their full stride, as
trumpeter Lee Morgan joined the fold with tenor saxophonist Hank Mobley, the
reliable pianist Bobby Timmons and steady bassist Jymie Merritt. Recorded live
at New York's City's Birdland aka the "Jazz Corner of the World," this double-CD
set reissued of two Blue Note LPs represents four 20-minute sets of this
incredible band at their best, and in their element. Mixing up standards and
favored originals from peer group composers, the band is, in the vernacular of
the era, cooking. Introductions by the legendary M.C. Pee Wee Marquette precede
the ultra-cool blues shuffle "Hipsippy Blues," as Morgan and Mobley sing
beautifully through their horns in delightful unison. "Chicken an' Dumplins" is
one of the hip, cool, chatty, and clipped melodies that will be memorable and
hummable 'til jazz do us part. The theme "Art's Revelation" in a minor key has
Jewish elements and a solid swing base where Blakey constantly switches up
rhythms, but not the tempo. The fast hard bop theme "M & M" defines the genre
and the era, while "Just Coolin'" is depicted as a foxtrot, but in hot, hard
swinging trim. Several standards include a great read of Randy Weston's "Hi-Fly"
with a pristine intro and Mobley's wonderful harmonic interpretation. Thelonious
Monk's "Justice" (better known in later years as "Evidence") fully exploits the
written pedal point stop-start theme, while the languid "Close Your Eyes" has
modal piano and horn inserts further enhancing this sweet tune. You also get a
short and stouter version of "The Theme," the former with Marquette's
announcing. When Mobley left and Wayne Shorter joined this ensemble, they hit
their peak of performance, but this band was as definitive a modern jazz
ensemble as there ever was, and the immaculately chosen repertoire elevates this
to one of the greatest live jazz session ever, and belongs on the shelf of all
serious jazz listeners.

Tracks:

01 - Hipsippy Blues
02 - Justice
03 - The Theme
04 - Close Your Eyes
05 - Just Coolin'

Personnel:

Art Blakey – drums
Lee Morgan - trumpet
Hank Mobley - tenor saxophone
Bobby Timmons – piano
Jymie Merritt – bass

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