Art Blakey
October 11th, 1919 -
October 16th, 1990
Influences: Chick Webb, Sid
Catlett, Ray Bauduc, African drummers
Art Blakey was born in Pittsburgh, PA and was a self-taught
piano player. At age 13 he started playing drums and
traveled as Chick Webb's valet. In autumn of 1942, Blakey
worked with Mary Lou Williams in New York. He played with
Fletcher Henderson and Billy Eckstine 1943-7. During the late
40's and early 50's Blakey worked with be-bop musicians such as
Charlie Parker. In 1955, he formed the Jazz Messengers
with Horace Silver. Silver left the following year, but Blakey
continued to work under the Jazz Messengers name for the
remainder of his career, employing such notable musicians as
Freddie Hubbard, Wayne Shorter and Wynton Marsalis. Blakey
was an innovator in the hard bop style of music, incorporating
African rhythms and techniques into his approach to the drum
set.
|
Selected Discography
|
Selected DVDs
Selected Books
|
