Blakey, Art [Buhaina, Abdullah ibn] (Pittsburgh, 11 Oct 1919 - New York, 16 Oct 1990)
Drummer and bandleader
He received some piano lessons at school and by seventh
grade was playing music full-time, leading a commercial band. Shortly
afterwards he changed to drums, on which he taught himself to play in the
aggressive swing style of Chick Webb, Sid Catlett, and Ray Bauduc.
In autumn 1942 he joined Mary Lou Williams for an engagement at Kelly's Stable
in
When Eckstine disbanded his group
in 1947 Blakey organized the Seventeen Messengers, a
rehearsal band, and recorded with an octet called the Jazz Messengers, the
first of his many groups bearing this name. He then traveled in
Blakey is a major figure in modern jazz and an important stylist on his instrument. From his earliest recording sessions with Eckstine, and particularly in his historic sessions with Monk in 1947, he exudes power and originality, creating a dark cymbal sound punctuated by frequent loud snare- and bass-drum accents in triplets or cross-rhythms. Although Blakey discourages comparison of his own music with African drumming, he adopted several African devices after his visit in 1948-9, including rapping on the side of the drum and using his elbow on the tom-tom to alter the pitch. Later he organized recording sessions with multiple drummers, including some African musicians and pieces. His much-imitated trademark, the forceful closing of the hi-hat on every second and fourth beat, has been part of his style since 1950-51. A loud and domineering drummer, Blakey also listens and responds to his soloists. His contribution to jazz as a discoverer and molder of young talent over three decades is no less significant than his very considerable innovations on his instrument.
Selected Recordings
As leader: Message from Kenya/Nothing but Soul (1953, Blue Note 1626); A Night at Birdland (1954, Blue Note 5037-9); Drum Suite (1956-7, Columbia CL1002); A Message from Blakey: Holiday for Skins (1958, Blue Note 4004); Des femmes disparaissent (1958, Fontana 660224); The Freedom Rider (1961, Blue Note 84156); Buttercorn Lady (1966, Limelight 86034); Jazz Messengers '70 (1970, Catalyst 7902); Anthenagin (1973, Prestige 10076); Recorded Live at Bubba's (1980, Who's Who in Jazz 21019); Album of the Year (1981, Timeless 155)
As sideman: B. Eckstine: Blowin' the Blues Away (1944, De Luxe 2001); Together! (1945, Spotlite 100), including Mister Chips; I love the rhythm in a riff (1945, National 9014); T. Monk: Who Knows (1947, Blue Note 1565); M. Davis: Weirdo (1954, Blue Note 45-1650); H. Silver: Horace Silver and the Jazz Messengers (1954, Blue Note 5058), including Doodlin'
Bibliography
H. Frost: "Art Blakey
in
H. Lovett: "Art Blakey," Metronome, lxxii/6 (1956), 17
J. Tynan: "The Jazz Message," Down Beat, xxiv/21 (1957), 15
R. Horricks and others:
These Jazzmen of our Time (
Z. Carno: "Art Blakey," The Jazz Review, iii/1 (1960), 6
J. Cooke: "Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers," Jazz Monthly, vi (1960), no.3, p.4; no.8, p.4
J. Goldberg: Jazz Masters of the Fifties (New York and London, 1965/R1980), 45
T. Humphrey: "The Art of Blakey Considered," Jazz Beat, iii/7 (1966), 7
J. Litweiler: "Bu's Delights and Laments," Down Beat, xliii/6 (1976), 15
A. Taylor: Notes and Tones: Musician-to-Musician Interviews (Liège, Belgium, 1977/R1982), 251
M. Hennessey: "The Enduring Jazz Message of Abdullah ibn Buhaina," Jazz Journal International, xxx/9 (1977), 6
I. Gitler: "Art Blakey Speaks his Mind," Jazz Magazine, iv/1 (1979), 40
H. Nolan: "New Message from Art Blakey," Down Beat, xlvi/17 (1979), 19
"Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers," Swing Journal, xxxiii/2 (1979), 224 [discography]
P. Danson: "Art Blakey," Coda, no.173 (1980), 14
G. Endress: Jazz Podium: Musiker über sich selbst (Stuttgart, Germany, 1980)
F. Paudras: "Art Blakey: le message," Jazz hot, Jazz-hot, nos. 374-5 (1980), 16
B. Rusch: "Art Blakey: Interview," Cadence, vii (1981), no.7, p.8; no.9, p.12
C. Stern: "Art Blakey," Modern Drummer, viii/9 (1984), 8
Z. Stewart: "Art Blakey in his Prime," Down Beat, lii/7 (1985), 20
D. H. Rosenthal: "Conversation with Art Blakey: the Big Beat!," Black Perspective in Music, xiv (1986), 267
Lewis Porter
The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz, © Macmillan Reference Ltd 1988
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1. Jazz Messengers
The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz
2. Porter, Lewis
The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz
adjacent entries
Blake, Jerry [Chabania, Jacinto] (Gary, IN, 23 Jan 1908 - 1961)
Blake, Ran (Springfield, MA, 20 April 1935)
Blakeney, Andy [Andrew] (Quitman, MS, 10 June 1898 - Baldwin Park, CA, 12 Feb 1992)
Blakey, Art [Buhaina, Abdullah ibn] (Pittsburgh, 11 Oct 1919 - New York, 16 Oct 1990)
Blanchard, Terence (New Orleans, 13 March 1962)
Bland, Jack (Sedalia, MO, 8 May 1899)
Blanton, Jimmy [James] (Chattanooga, TN, Oct 1918 - Los Angeles, 30 July 1942)
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