Jimmy Smith – House Party (1959)

Blue Note – BLP 4002Rec. Dates : August 25, 1957, February 25, 1958 Organ : Jimmy SmithAlto Sax : George Coleman, Lou DonaldsonDrums : Donald Bailey, Art BlakeyGuitar : Eddie McFadden, Kenny BurrellTenor Sax : Tina BrooksTrombone : Curtis FullerTrumpet : Lee Morgan Strictlyheadies : June 28, 2019Stream this Album Cashbox : 03/07/1959 The title suggests informality, and that is just the atmosphere crated by organist Jimmy

Art Blakey – Impulse / Art Blakey / Jazz Messengers (1961)

Impulse – A-7Rec. Date : June 13, 1961, June 14, 1961Stream this Album Drums : Art BlakeyBass : Jymie MerrittTenor Sax : Wayne ShorterTrombone : Curtis FullerTrumpet : Lee MorganPiano : Bobby Timmons Cashbox : 10/07/1961 The pile-driving Blakey rhythms propel the Messengers to fiery heights in the group’s Impulse date here. Though familiar enough to jazz audiences, Blakey still generates more than

The Jazz Messengers – Hard Bop (1957)

Columbia – CL 1040Rec. Dates : December 12, 1956, December 13, 1956Stream this Album Drums : Art BlakeyAlto Sax : Jackie McLeanBass : Spanky DeBrestPiano : Sam DockeryTrumpet : Bill Hardman Billboard : 10/28/1957Score of 80 A leaping, boppish session that is notable for wealth of stark, emotionally direct solos, and integrated thrust of group as a whole. Most memorable

Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers – Drum Suite (1957)

Columbia – CL 1002Rec. Dates : December 13, 1956, February 22, 1957Stream this Album Percussion : Art Blakey, Jo Jones, Charles Wright, Cándido, SabúAlto Sax : Jackie McLeanBass : Spanky DeBrest, Oscar PettifordCello : Oscar PettifordPiano : Sam Dockery, Ray BryantTrumpet : Bill Hardman Billboard : 06/24/1957Album Cover of the Week Excellent color photograph by Arnold Newman effectively highlights the eerie, grotesque African masks and figurine.

Milt Jackson – Plenty Plenty Soul (1957)

Atlantic – 1269Rec. Dates : January 5, 1957, January 7, 1957Stream this Album Vibes : Milt JacksonAlto Sax : Cannonball AdderleyArranger : Quincy JonesBaritone Sax : Sahib ShihabBass : Oscar Pettiford, Percy HeathDrums : Connie Kay, Art BlakeyPiano : Horace SilverTenor Sax : Lucky Thompson, Frank FosterTrombone : Jimmy ClevelandTrumpet : Joe Newman   American Record GuideMartin Williamson : February, 1958 Many of the “modern” jazz musicians are

The Jazz Messengers – The Jazz Messengers (1956)

Columbia – CL 897Rec. Dates : April 6, 1956, May 4, 1956Stream this Album Drums : Art BlakeyBass : Doug WatkinsPiano : Horace SilverTenor Sax : Hank MobleyTrumpet : Donald Byrd Billboard : 12/01/1956Spotlight on… selection The Messengers’ first Columbia album carries on in the brilliant, free-wheeling fashion that attracted so much critical admiration when they were on another label.

Clark Terry – Clark Terry (1955)

EmArcy – MG-36007Rec. Dates : January 3, 1955, January 4, 1955Stream this Album Trumpet : Clark TerryArranger : Quincy JonesBaritone Sax : Cecil PayneBass : Oscar Pettiford, Wendell MarshallCello : Oscar PettifordDrums : Art BlakeyPiano : Horace SilverTrombone : Jimmy Cleveland Cashbox : 07/02/1955 Clark Terry, long a musician’s musician, with training that had him in the forefront of such bands as Hampton, Barnet, Count Basie and Duke

Thelonious Monk – Monk’s Music (1957)

Riverside – RLP 12-242Rec. Dates : June 25, 1957, June 26, 1957Stream this Album Piano : Thelonious MonkAlto Sax : Gigi GryceBass : Wilbur WareDrums : Art BlakeyTenor Sax : Coleman Hawkins, John ColtraneTrumpet : Ray Copeland Billboard : 11/18/1957Special Merit Jazz Album During these performances Monk‘s compositions, always harmoniously arresting, assume the beauty and richness they have suggested in the past. In

Thelonious Monk – The Unique (1956)

Riverside – RLP 12-209Rec. Dates : March 17, 1956, April 3, 1956Stream this Album Piano : Thelonious MonkBass : Oscar PettifordDrums : Art Blakey Billboard : 12/31/1955Score of 73 The diskery has hit on the all-Ellington gimmick as a method of introducing this pioneer pianist, acknowledged as a prime inventor of the idiom, to a wilder audience than he