Art Blakey & Joe Gordon - The Complete Art Blakey On EmArcy

The textbook method of studying jazz history frequently creates and perpetuates misconcenptions, overemphasizing certain individuals at the expense of others. While Art Blakey should be a familiar name to all jazz fans, Joe Gordon and Gigi  Gryce have been somewhat forgotten. However,  in their time, both men were extremely well respected and worked with manyof the figures who made the textbook roll call.

The 1954s sessions recorded for EmArcy label collected here, have long been favorites of connoisseurs of the intense but accessible sounds know as hard bop, a style wich was developed in the mid-1950s. However, they have been hard to come by, and this is their first complete appearance on a United States compact disc. 

Blakey

&

Introducing Joe Gordon

A fantastic hard bop reissue! This CD combines two rare early sessions by Art Blakey – one recorded under his name, the other under the leadership of trumpeter Joe Gordon, a fantastic player who died an early death, and never got to record as much as he should have. Both albums were only ever issued on rare 10" LPs during the mid 50s, and they're combined here with great sound, great notes, and two bonus tracks. The set's over 70 minutes in length, and every cut crackles with a sinister intensity that's just fantastic – made all the more special by a host of original compositions by both Gordon and Gigi Gryce, who arranged one of the session. One session features Gordon on trumpet, Gigi Gryce on alto, and Walter Bishop on piano; the other features Gordon, Charlie Rouse, and Junior Mance – and Blakey is on drums throughout. Titles include "Evening Lights", "Rifftide", "Lady Bob", "Eleanor", "Minority", "Hello", "Mayreh", and "Futurity".  *Dusty Groove, Inc.*

This compilation assembles some long unavailable bop sessions led by either Art Blakey or trumpeter Joe Gordon as a collectable Verve Elite Edition reissue CD. Blakey's quintet includes Gordon pianist Walter Bishop, Jr. and alto saxophonist Gigi Gryce, who composed most of the music. "Minority" has long since become a standard among boppers but "Salute To Birdland" is almost as good; the remaining tracks are quite as strong. Gordon's set leads off with Coleman Hawkins' well known riff tune "Rifftide"; Pianist Junior Mance provides Gordon with some strong backing and a young Charlie Rouse adds a spirited tenor sax solo. Gordon's playing is a little choppy on his tunes "Xochimilco" and "Evening Lights", while his lyrical take of "Body And Soul" is strangely backed by Blakey's tom toms. This is a mandatory acquisition for Blakey fans and those who enjoy bop. *Ken Dryden*

1 - Minority

(Gigi Gryce)

2 -Salute To Birdland

(Gigi Gryce)

3 - Eleanor

(Gigi Gryce)

4 - Futurity

(Gigi Gryce)

5 - Simplicity

(Gigi Gryce)

6 - Strictly Romantic

(Gigi Gryce)

7 - Hello

(Gigi Gryce)

8 - Mayreh

(Horace Silver)

9 - Rifftide

(Coleman Hawkins)

10 - Lady Bob

(Quincy Jones)

11 - Grasshopper

(Quincy Jones)

12 - The Theme

(Kenny Dorham)

13 - Bous Bier

(Quincy Jones)

14 - Xochimilco

(Joe Gordon)

15 -Evening Lights

(Joe Gordon)

16 - Body And Soul

(Edward Heyman, Frank Eyton, John Green, Robert Sour)

#1 to #8: from the album Blakey, EmArcy (MG 26030)

Joe Gordon (trumpet), Gigi Gryce (alto sax), Walter Bishop, Jr. (piano), Bernard "Bernie" Griggs (bass), Art Blakey (drums).

Recorded at Fine Sound, New York City, May 20, 1954.

#9 to #14: from the album Introducing Joe Gordon, EmArcy (MG 26046) and EmArcy (MG 36025)

#15 and #16: from the album The Jazz School, EmArcy (MG-36093)

Joe Gordon (trumpet), Charlie Rouse (tenor sax), Junior Mance (piano), James "Jimmy" Schenk (bass), Art Blakey (drums).

Recorded at Fine Sound, New York City, September 3 (#11, #12, #14, #15) and September 8 (#9, #10, #13, #16), 1954.