Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers – Hard Drive (Remastered 2013) (1957/2013) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers – Hard Drive (Remastered 2013) (1957/2013)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 38:55 minutes | 900 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Bethlehem Records

The Jazz Messengers was a group of young musicians organized by Art Blakey to both inspire and mentor young jazz players, as well as to keep Blakey inspired and full of new ideas. The group went on to serve as a training ground for such luminaries as Hank Mobley and Wynton Marsalis. Hard Drive was recorded in 1957 and was originally released on the Bethlehem label.

The final recording by the second version of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers features trumpeter Bill Hardman, tenor saxophonist Johnny Griffin, either Junior Mance or Sam Dockery on piano and bassist Spanky DeBrest along with leader/drummer Blakey performing four group originals, two Jimmy Heath compositions and the obscure “Late Spring.” Although this was not the most famous edition of The Messengers, it set a standard that its successors would uphold to, training its members to be bandleaders in their own right. The music on this album is typical hard bop of the period, well played and full of enthusiasm and fire.

Tracklist:
1. Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers – For Minors Only (05:50)
2. Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers – Right Down Front (04:32)
3. Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers – Deo-X (05:49)
4. Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers – Sweet Sakeena (05:05)
5. Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers – For Miles and Miles (05:24)
6. Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers – Krafty (06:34)
7. Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers – Late Spring (05:38)

Personnel:
Art Blakey – drums
Bill Hardman – trumpet
Johnny Griffin – tenor saxophone
Junior Mance – piano on “1, 2 & 4-7”
Sam Dockery – piano on “3”
Spanky DeBrest – bass

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