Drum Suite

 ( Art Blakey Albums ) 

Drum Suite is an album by drummer Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers and the Art Blakey Percussion Ensemble, recorded in late 1956 and early 1957 and originally released on Columbia Records in April 1957. "Art Blakey Catalog - album index", JazzDisco.org; accessed June 5, 2013.Schwartz, Steve, and Michael Fitzgerald,

[http://www.jazzdiscography.com/Artists/Blakey/chron.htm "Chronology of Art Blakey (and the Jazz Messengers)"], May 1996-July 6, 2008; accessed June 5, 2013. It was the first of several albums recorded by Blakey in the 1950s and 1960s that explored percussion-oriented jazz. It was followed by Orgy in Rhythm, Holiday for Skins, and The African Beat.
     

The 2005 CD reissue added three tracks from a June 1956 session, two of them previously released on Originally in 1982. "Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers* – Drum Suite" at Discogs.

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Reception Allmusic awarded the album 4 stars, calling it "Groundbreaking for its time, and still sounding vital, powerful, and visionary, the Drum Suite album is somewhat of a lost masterpiece that deserves a fresh audience".Leggett, Steve, Allmusic Review; accessed June 5, 2013.

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Track listing

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Original release

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2005 Columbia/Legacy CD reissue

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Personnel

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June 25, 1956 (Tracks 7–9)

• Art Blakey – drum kit
• Donald Byrd – trumpet
• Ira Sullivan – tenor saxophone
• Kenny Drew – piano
• Wilbur Ware – double bass

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The Jazz Messengers—December 13, 1956 (Side two)

• Art Blakey – drum kit
• Bill Hardman – trumpet
• Jackie McLean – alto saxophone
• Sam Dockery – piano
• Spanky DeBrest – double bass

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The Art Blakey Percussion Ensemble—February 22, 1957 (Side one)

• Art Blakey – drum kit
• Ray Bryant – piano
• Oscar Pettiford – bass, cello
• Jo Jones – drums
• Charles "Specs" Wright – drums, timpani, gong
• Candido Camero, Sabu Martinez – bongos

Categories: Art Blakey Albums, The Jazz Messengers Albums, 1957 Albums, Columbia Records Albums, Albums Produced By George Avakian

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