Artist: Art Blakey Album: The Jazz Messengers

Year: 1997
Duration: 50:17

A of Art Blakey's Album, The Jazz Messengers

Art Blakey was considered to be one of the greatest jazz drummers of all time. His band, The Jazz Messengers, was widely recognized as an influential and innovative force in the jazz scene during the 1950s and 1960s. In this post, we will take a closer look at one of their albums, The Jazz Messengers, and analyze its impact on the jazz genre. As a music critic, I will share my honest opinion on the album, its best songs, most innovative parts, and a final conclusion on its place in jazz history.
The Jazz Messengers is a quintessential representation of hard bop jazz. Released in 1956, the album features seven tracks that highlight the group's incredible harmonies and Blakey's iconic drumming style. The album's sound is a fusion of bebop and blues, characterized by faster tempos and more complex chord progressions. The music is intense and exciting, showcasing the virtuosity of each member of the band.
One of the most innovative aspects of this album is the way the band experiments with melody and rhythm. The song Whisper Not, for example, begins with a haunting piano melody before transitioning to a more up-tempo beat. The saxophone solo in this song is particularly noteworthy, displaying an incredible sense of improvisation and creativity. Another standout track is Doodlin', featuring a catchy piano intro that sets the stage for a thrilling call-and-response between the horns and drums.
In terms of Criticism, while The Jazz Messengers is undoubtedly an exceptional album, it may be criticized for being too formulaic at times. Many of the tracks follow a similar structure, with a head melody followed by improvised solos. However, this is a common feature of hard bop jazz and was part of the Jazz Messengers' signature sound. A more important critique of the album may be its lack of diversity in terms of gender and race. The album features an all-male, all-black band, which reflects the segregated nature of jazz during this time.
Overall, The Jazz Messengers is a landmark album of jazz history. It showcases Art Blakey's incredible talent as a drummer and the Jazz Messengers' virtuosity as a band. The album's innovative sound and improvisational style set the stage for future jazz musicians to experiment with melody and rhythm. While the album may be criticized for its formulaic structure and lack of diversity, it remains a classic of the genre and a must-listen for any jazz enthusiast.