Art Blakey

Art Blakey

bebop, jazz

United States

About

Sound in a sentence: "Blakey’s drumming delivers a pulsating drive that propels musicians forward while layering complex rhythms that create an ever-shifting tapestry of sound."
Art Blakey reshaped the landscape of jazz with his innovative approach to drumming and leadership. His role as a bandleader not only elevated the talents of countless musicians but also helped define the sound of hard bop, a movement that brought a fresh intensity and emotional depth to jazz, making it accessible and resonant with audiences across diverse backgrounds.
Art Blakey reshaped the landscape of jazz with his innovative approach to drumming and leadership. His role as a bandleader not only elevated the talents of countless musicians but also helped define the sound of hard bop, a movement that brought a fresh intensity and emotional depth to jazz, making it accessible and resonant with audiences across diverse backgrounds. Blakey's insistence on a powerful, driving rhythm catalyzed a new generation of artists who sought to express their personal narratives through the genre, contributing to its cultural significance beyond mere entertainment. Blakey's approach combined ferocity with finesse; he understood that rhythm was the heartbeat of jazz, using his kit to create an expansive sonic space that encouraged improvisation and interaction among band members. He often employed dynamic contrasts and polyrhythmic textures, which allowed for both tension and release within performances. This emphasis on collective expression transformed the way ensembles approached their craft, fostering a spirit of camaraderie that became central to live jazz experiences. Lyrically, Blakey's music often explores themes of struggle and triumph, capturing the essence of the human experience through instrumental storytelling. His tone balances sincerity with a raw energy, inviting listeners into moments of introspection while celebrating communal joy. The storytelling element is impressionistic rather than literal, allowing for personal interpretations and emotional connections that resonate long after the music has stopped.

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Discography

88 releases β€’ 88 studio β€’ 1953–2021
Type: |
New Faces New Sounds (Introducing the Horace Silver Trio)
New Faces New Sounds... (1953)
Blakey
Blakey (1954)
Jazz Messages
Jazz Messages (1954)
A Night at Birdland Vol. 1
A Night at Birdland... (1954)
At the Cafe Bohemia, Vol. 2
At the Cafe Bohemia,... (1955)
Art Blakey with the Original Jazz Messengers
Art Blakey with the... (1956)
A Night at Birdland Vol. 2
A Night at Birdland... (1956)
Cu-Bop
Cu-Bop (1957)
Ritual: The Modern Jazz Messengers
Ritual: The Modern J... (1957)
Orgy in Rhythm
Orgy in Rhythm (1957)
Hard Drive
Hard Drive (1957)
Drum Suite
Drum Suite (1957)
Selections from Lerner and Loewe's...
Selections from Lern... (1957)
Hard Bop
Hard Bop (1957)
1958 - Paris Olympia
1958 - Paris Olympia (1958)
A Night in Tunisia
A Night in Tunisia (1958)
At the Jazz Corner of the World
At the Jazz Corner o... (1959)
Moanin'
Moanin' (1959)
Holiday for Skins
Holiday for Skins (1959)
Des Femmes Disparaissent
Des Femmes Disparais... (1959)
Art Blakey Big Band
Art Blakey Big Band (1959)
Art Blakey et les Jazz-Messengers au club St. Germain
Art Blakey et les Ja... (1959)
Les Liaisons Dangereuses 1960
Les Liaisons Dangere... (1959)
The Big Beat
The Big Beat (1960)
A Night in Tunisia
A Night in Tunisia (1960)
Paris Jam Session
Paris Jam Session (1961)
Roots & Herbs
Roots & Herbs (1961)
A Jazz Hour with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers: Blues March
A Jazz Hour with Art... (1961)
Art Blakey!!!!! Jazz Messengers!!!!!
Art Blakey!!!!! Jazz... (1961)
The African Beat
The African Beat (1962)
Mosaic
Mosaic (1962)
Caravan
Caravan (1963)
Buhaina's Delight
Buhaina's Delight (1963)
The Freedom Rider
The Freedom Rider (1964)
Golden Boy
Golden Boy (1964)
A Jazz Message
A Jazz Message (1964)
Free for All
Free for All (1964)
'S Make It
'S Make It (1965)
Indestructible
Indestructible (1966)
Kyoto
Kyoto (1966)
Tough!
Tough! (1966)
Hold On, I'm Coming
Hold On, I'm Coming (1966)
Like Someone in Love
Like Someone in Love (1967)
The Witch Doctor
The Witch Doctor (1968)
Jazz Messengers '70
Jazz Messengers '70 (1970)
Child's Dance
Child's Dance (1972)
Buhaina
Buhaina (1973)
Anthenagin
Anthenagin (1973)
Backgammon
Backgammon (1976)
Mirage
Mirage (1977)
Gypsy Folk Tales
Gypsy Folk Tales (1977)
In My Prime Vol. 1
In My Prime Vol. 1 (1978)
In This Korner
In This Korner (1978)
In My Prime Vol. 2
In My Prime Vol. 2 (1978)
Pisces
Pisces (1979)
Reflections in Blue
Reflections in Blue (1979)
Night in Tunisia: Digital Recording
Night in Tunisia: Di... (1979)
Africaine
Africaine (1981)
Album of the Year
Album of the Year (1981)
Originally
Originally (1982)
Oh-By the Way
Oh-By the Way (1982)
Keystone 3
Keystone 3 (1982)
Killer Joe
Killer Joe (1982)
Blue Night
Blue Night (1985)
Theory of Art
Theory of Art (1987)
Feeling Good
Feeling Good (1988)
Not Yet
Not Yet (1988)
I Get a Kick Out of Bu
I Get a Kick Out of... (1988)
Chippin' In
Chippin' In (1990)
One for All
One for All (1990)
Drums Around the Corner
Drums Around the Cor... (1999)
Just Coolin’
Just Coolin’ (2020)
First Flight to Tokyo: The Lost 1961 Recordings
First Flight to Toky... (2021)

Albums ()

First Flight to Tokyo: The Lost 1961 Recordings

First Flight to Tokyo: The Lost 1961 Recordings

2021

Just Coolin’

Just Coolin’

2020

Drums Around the Corner

Drums Around the Corner

1999

Chippin' In

Chippin' In

1990

One for All

One for All

1990

Feeling Good

Feeling Good

1988

Not Yet

Not Yet

1988

I Get a Kick Out of Bu

I Get a Kick Out of Bu

1988

Theory of Art

Theory of Art

1987

Blue Night

Blue Night

1985

Originally

Originally

1982

Oh-By the Way

Oh-By the Way

1982

Keystone 3

Keystone 3

1982

Killer Joe

Killer Joe

1982

Africaine

Africaine

1981

Album of the Year

Album of the Year

1981

Pisces

Pisces

1979

Reflections in Blue

Reflections in Blue

1979

Night in Tunisia: Digital Recording

Night in Tunisia: Digital Recording

1979

In My Prime Vol. 1

In My Prime Vol. 1

1978

In This Korner

In This Korner

1978

In My Prime Vol. 2

In My Prime Vol. 2

1978

Mirage

Mirage

1977

Gypsy Folk Tales

Gypsy Folk Tales

1977

Backgammon

Backgammon

1976

Buhaina

Buhaina

1973

Anthenagin

Anthenagin

1973

Child's Dance

Child's Dance

1972

Art Blakey in Sweden

Art Blakey in Sweden

Meet You at the Jazz Corner of the World

Meet You at the Jazz Corner of the World

Ugetsu

Ugetsu

The Giants of Jazz

The Giants of Jazz

New York Scene

New York Scene

Live at Kimball's

Live at Kimball's

Three Blind Mice

Three Blind Mice

A Night at Birdland Vol. 3

A Night at Birdland Vol. 3

A Midnight Session with the Jazz Messengers

A Midnight Session with the Jazz Messengers

Jazz Messengers '70

Jazz Messengers '70

1970

Live in '65

Live in '65

The Art of Jazz: Live in Leverkusen

The Art of Jazz: Live in Leverkusen

Art Blakey et les Jazz Messengers au ThéÒtre des Champs-Γ‰lysΓ©es

Art Blakey et les Jazz Messengers au ThéÒtre des Champs-Γ‰lysΓ©es

Live at Montreux and Northsea

Live at Montreux and Northsea

One by One

One by One

Straight Ahead

Straight Ahead

The Witch Doctor

The Witch Doctor

1968

Like Someone in Love

Like Someone in Love

1967

Indestructible

Indestructible

1966

Kyoto

Kyoto

1966

Tough!

Tough!

1966

Hold On, I'm Coming

Hold On, I'm Coming

1966

'S Make It

'S Make It

1965

The Freedom Rider

The Freedom Rider

1964

Golden Boy

Golden Boy

1964

A Jazz Message

A Jazz Message

1964

Free for All

Free for All

1964

Caravan

Caravan

1963

Buhaina's Delight

Buhaina's Delight

1963

The African Beat

The African Beat

1962

Mosaic

Mosaic

1962

Art Blakey!!!!! Jazz Messengers!!!!!

Art Blakey!!!!! Jazz Messengers!!!!!

1961

Paris Jam Session

Paris Jam Session

1961

Roots & Herbs

Roots & Herbs

1961

A Jazz Hour with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers: Blues March

A Jazz Hour with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers: Blues March

1961

The Big Beat

The Big Beat

1960

A Night in Tunisia

A Night in Tunisia

1960

Holiday for Skins

Holiday for Skins

1959

At the Jazz Corner of the World

At the Jazz Corner of the World

1959

Moanin'

Moanin'

1959

Des Femmes Disparaissent

Des Femmes Disparaissent

1959

Art Blakey Big Band

Art Blakey Big Band

1959

Art Blakey et les Jazz-Messengers au club St. Germain

Art Blakey et les Jazz-Messengers au club St. Germain

1959

Les Liaisons Dangereuses 1960

Les Liaisons Dangereuses 1960

1959

A Night in Tunisia

A Night in Tunisia

1958

1958 - Paris Olympia

1958 - Paris Olympia

1958

Hard Drive

Hard Drive

1957

Orgy in Rhythm

Orgy in Rhythm

1957

Drum Suite

Drum Suite

1957

Ritual: The Modern Jazz Messengers

Ritual: The Modern Jazz Messengers

1957

Cu-Bop

Cu-Bop

1957

Selections from Lerner and Loewe's...

Selections from Lerner and Loewe's...

1957

Hard Bop

Hard Bop

1957

A Night at Birdland Vol. 2

A Night at Birdland Vol. 2

1956

Art Blakey with the Original Jazz Messengers

Art Blakey with the Original Jazz Messengers

1956

At the Cafe Bohemia, Vol. 2

At the Cafe Bohemia, Vol. 2

1955

A Night at Birdland Vol. 1

A Night at Birdland Vol. 1

1954

Blakey

Blakey

1954

Jazz Messages

Jazz Messages

1954

New Faces New Sounds (Introducing the Horace Silver Trio)

New Faces New Sounds (Introducing the Horace Silver Trio)

1953

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