Happy Birthday, Art Blakey

Jazz drummer Art Blakey was born on October 11, 1919, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Blakey was one of the inventors of the bebop style of drumming. He was also the leader of one of the greatest jazz bands, Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, which served as the developmental band for a large number of jazz musicians, including pianists Keith Jarrett and Cedar Walton, reed players Wayne Shorter and Benny Golson, trumpet players Clifford Brown and Wynton Marsalis, bassist Stanley Clarke, and many others.

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends Blakey's album, A Night at Birdland, Vol. 1 (Blue Note). (Purchase at Amazon.com.)

Blakey's Jazz Messengers play "No Problem" here:

Robert
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