When the Marsalis Brothers left The Jazz Messengers in early 1982, Wynton suggested that Art Blakey take a close listen to trumpeter Terence Blanchard (then 19) and 21-year old altoist Donald Harrison. The drummer took his advice, and after also adding young pianist Johnny O'Neal, Blakey soon had an exciting new version of The Jazz Messengers. Tenor saxophonist Bill Pierce and bassist Charles Fambrough were still present from the older band for this excellent LP. In the Blakey tradition, this set has five new compositions from bandmembers in addition to Wayne Shorter's "One by One" and the standard "My Funny Valentine"; the music is a fine example of high-quality hard bop.
Oh, By The Way
Duke Soup
Tropical Breeze
One By One
Sudan Blue
My Funny Valentine
Alicia
Terence Blanchard (trumpet) Donald Harrison (alto saxophone) Billy Pierce (tenor saxophone) Johnny O'Neal (piano) Charles Fambrough (bass) Art Blakey (drums)
Fendal Sound Studio, Loenan Aan De Vecht, Holland, May 20, 1982
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ReplyDeletegrumpywon(a)gmail.com
...looking forward to hear this one - Billy Pierce is a very much underrated player...
ReplyDeleteThanks for this one-lost years ago!
ReplyDeleteThanks for finding this! To hear early Blanchard & Harrison is fantastic!
ReplyDeleteMany thanks, Grumpy! PM
ReplyDeleteThe University of Blakey, God bless his soul.
ReplyDeleteNice post Grumpy, much appreciated.
thank you very much
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to heart his grumpy...I saw him once live at North Sea Jazz back in '88 (shortly before he passed away). Unaware of this album, so thanks a lot in advance for sharing it.
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