Dig This...

 Cued Art Blakeys Dig This. Wayne Shorter a bit pedestrian on cd3 but grooving on the rest! Always known about Blakey but this is the first time I have ever seen a cd of his for sale. Well worth shelling out the $2 for.

The liner notes are most impressive. He drummed for Fletcher Henderson, and Billy Eckstines big band when it featured the up and comers Miles Davis, Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie.

As the 1950s began, Blakey was backing musicians such as Davis, Parker, Gillespie, Bud Powell and Thelonious Monk. he is often considered to have been Monk's most empathetic drummer, and he played on both Monk's first recording session as a leader (for Blue Note Records in 1947) and his final one (in London in 1971), as well as many in between. Blakey toured with Buddy DeFranco from 1951 to 1953 in a band that also included Kenny Drew.

MY pal who also collects jazz greats said that there were too many Art Blakey lp's but he had to pay the bills and he mentored many other young players who went on to have great careers with a great succession of Jazz Messengers.