Reginald Trimiew February 4, 2011 History of Jazz Art Blakey Research Paper Introduction One of the most influential

musicians to play Americas classical music was Art Blakey. During his career which spanned over six decades, Art was able reach and teach the musical souls of jazz enthusiast of different countries across the world. People have said that no drummer ever drove a band harder, none generate more momentum in the course of a tune like Art could. Early Life and Career Art Blakey Abdullah Ibn Buhaina was born October 11, 1919 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Art began his musical career in the church. Originally Art played the piano and in the seventh grade led his own band. While playing at a Pittsburgh nightclub, the Democratic Club, the owner forced Art to play the drums. After his switch to drums Art taught himself the swing style of Jazz. When explaining his musical career Art said, "I've had bands since I was 15 years old. I was playing piano with the best band in Pittsburgh 18 pieces - and the best gig, too. We sounded like Count Basie, Fletcher Henderson, we played Benny Goodman and Benny Carter things." In 1937, Art and Pianist Mary Lou Williams formed their own band. Two years later he began and three year tour with Fletcher Henderson. In the following years Art went on to perform with Billy Eckstine, Dizzy Gillespie, Art Monk and Charlie Parker to name a few. Art played with many musicians, and was mentored by Thelonious Monk during his time in New York city. "He [Monk] was responsible for me when I moved from Pittsburgh to New York. He used to take me and Bud Powell around to all the clubs to play. If the musicians didn't want us to sit in, he'd run them off the stage, sit down, and play with me. At that time jobs were so few, and musicians had cliques. Times were tight, things were changing, but Monk was just outstanding in himself. He's a great person." Regarding his trip to Africa Art said, "I didn't go to Africa to study drums - somebody wrote that - I went to Africa because there wasn't anything else for me to do. I couldn't get any gigs, and I had to work my way over on a boat. I went over there to study religion and philosophy. I didn't bother with the drums, I wasn't after that. I went over there to see what I could do about religion. When I was growing up I had no choice, I was just thrown into a church and told this is what I was going to be. I didn't want to be their Christian. I didn't like it. You could study politics in this country, but I didn't have access to the religions of the world. That's why I went to Africa. When I got back people got the idea I went there to learn about music." As a result of the visit, Art changed his faith to Islam as well as his name. He was now known as Abdullah Ibn Buhaina. Art taught himself the style of swing which

Jazz Messengers With a new name and outlook on life Art put together his first Jazz Messengers band, which consisted of 17-pieces. Art stated, "The Jazz Messengers really started in 1949, but then it was called the 17 Messengers. The cats that put the band together came to me and told me I was going to be the leader. Being a musician has nothing to do with being a leader; I was a good organizer. The band was intended to be a rehearsal band that recorded with the octet Jazz Messengers. Jazz Messengers toured Europe and North Africa. In 1960, the Messengers became the first American Jazz band to play in Japan for Japanese audiences. During its tenure band members came and went but some notables were Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, and Fats Navarro. The band has many well known songs during its career. Some of those songs were; Timmons Moanin, Golsons Along Came Betty and Blues March and Shorters Ping Pong. With the addition of trombonist Curtis Fuller in 61, the band was transformed into a sextet, which allowed the band to incorporate a big band sound into their hard bop repertoire. Through much of the 60s, the Messengers were a mainstay on the jazz scene with jazz greats including Cedar Walton, Chuck Mangione, Keith Jarrett, Reggie Workman, Lucky Thompson and John Hicks. Despite jazzs fall from popularity during the 70s, the Messengers nonetheless remained a strong force, playing with the same passion as they always did. The Messengers were one of the jazz bands who continued to play straight ahead jazz despite the changing sound of jazz during the 80s.