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Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Happy Birthday Art Blakey!


Today is the birthday of legendary jazz drummer and bandleader, Art Blakey, on Oct. 11, 1919.

He was a pioneer in the hard bop style of jazz, and for 30 years was the leader of the supergroup Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers who continued to shift lineups across the years, and many artists grew up to be successful solo artists from that group, such as trumpeteer Lee Morgan.

The album, and specifically the title track, "Moanin'" remains one of the greatest jazz recordings of all time, which was released in 1958 on Blue Note Records (in which Blakey would record most of his music).

Art Blakey's drumming style and selection of players was influential in the world of jazz, and he remained active until his death on Oct. 16, 1990.

Blakey was inducted into the Jazz Hall of Fame (in 1982), the Grammy Hall of Fame (in 2001), and was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005.

Here's a selected track by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers... happy birthday Blake!

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