Drum Suite - Art Blakey

Oct

7

Drum Suite - Art Blakey

≡ Category: 1950s, Afro Cuban Jazz, Hard Bop, Latin Jazz, Reviews |
≅ Written by: Michael Kydonieus

JAZZBO NOTES RECOMMENDED RECORDING

Rating:

I’ve got to admit, I’m fond of Art Blakey. I like the way he ostentatiously plays constrasting cross rhythms every chance he gets. He’s a highly theatrical showoff, which is not a criticism. Besides, he’s probably the drummer who best understands Thelonious Monk, which definitely earns him brownie points with me.

Aside from Blakey just being himself, another plus for Drum Suite is that Blakey has the good sense to employ pianists Ray Bryant and Sam Dockery, both of whom are a lot of fun to listen to. Still, even though Drum Suite has plenty of perfectly good hard bop on it, that’s not really the main reason to own it.

The main selling point of Drum Suite is the three-part drum suite of the title. On The Sacrifice, the first movement of the suite, the combination of Blakey’s polyrhythmic fills, some Swahili chants and the work of conguero Candido Camero and the other percussionsists is quite exciting. The tune is brought to a boil by the piano solo of Ray Bryant, who combines Latin rhythms, blues licks, and stride piano into a feverish mix. It’s an incredibly stimulating combination of styles.

The fun continues with Cubano Chant, which sounds like a lost cousin to the classic Oye Como Va, but which I have never heard covered elsewhere. Ray Bryant contributes another wonderful stride-flavored solo on this one.

The suite is completed by Oscalypso, written by bassist Oscar Pettiford. On this one, Pettiford plays a distorted cello, probably fed through a guitar pickup.

The suite is a total blast, which is astonishing considering that it was the first of it’s kind to be attempted. Even more amazing, Art Blakey and his percussion ensemble nailed it on the first take!

If you have any interest in hard bop and afro-cuban music, you should check this out.