COMPOSERS: Blanchard,Cole Porter,Toussaint
LABELS: BBC Jazz Legends
PERFORMER: Art Blakey (d), Terence Blanchard (t, flg), Lonnie Plaxico (b), Mulgrew Miller (p), Jean Toussaint (ts), Donald Harrison (as, ss)
CATALOGUE NO: BBCJ 7003-2
There are only five performances on the Art Blakey album, plus a Blakey interview about the Jazz Messengers’ formation and history, which suggests that one or two of the tracks might be a little on the long side.
However, the rhythm section is excellent, and there are some fine solos from Terence Blanchard and Jean Toussaint, both of whom contribute some good compositions.
Mulgrew Miller’s trio feature, ‘Come Rain or Come Shine’, is a concise and superb high spot and Cole Porter’s ‘I Love You’ is a longer tour de force. Alyn Shipton’s notes grace all three albums.