Art+blakey

More than any other album in the canon of Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers, 1958’s Moanin’—featuring the great drummer with trumpeter Lee Morgan, tenor saxophonist Benny Golson, pianist Bobby Timmons, and bassist Jymie Merritt—was the perfect crystallization of the band’s bluesy, soulful sound, and it still stands today as perhaps the most quintessential hard bop recording of all-time. Originally self-titled, the album was later renamed Moanin’ due to the popularity of Timmons’ unforgettable opening track. The album also introduced several indelible Golson compositions that would become standards of the jazz songbook including “Along Came Betty” and “Blues March.” This Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition is all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal.

This is an unusual edition of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers because it includes pianist Keith Jarrett and trumpeter Chuck Mangione (well before their respective solo careers took off), along with tenor saxophonist Frank Mitchell and bassist Reggie Workman, though this was the only commercial recording by this edition of the band. Mangione contributed several originals to the date and takes many strong solos. The influence of Bill Evans is readily apparent in several of Jarrett's brief solos, while Mitchell commands attention in the explosive romp through "Secret Love." Recorded live at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach, the sound quality of this reissue (originally issued by Limelight under the title Buttercorn Lady) is a bit muddy, probably due to tape deterioration…

Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers - Les Liaisons Dangereuses (1959) {EmArcy-Universal 812 017-2 rel 2003}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 309 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 119 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 38 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1959, 2003 EmArcy / Universal Music France | 812 017-2
Jazz / Hard Bop

An interesting set of music originally recorded as the soundtrack for the French film Les Liaisons Dangereuses, the majority of these tracks feature Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers of mid-1959 with trumpeter Lee Morgan, tenorman Barney Wilen, pianist Boby Timmons and bassist Jymie Merritt joining the explosive drummer/leader. In general, the music manages to stand on its own with the ensemble getting to stretch out a bit on the rare material.