Jazz Messengers - Classic Albums 1956-1963 - 4XCD

The origin of the Jazz Messengers goes back to 1954 or 1955, when the first recordings credited to the band appeared. The Jazz Messengers formed as a collective, nominally led by Horace Silver or Art Blakey on various studio dates. Blakey credits Silver with reviving the Messengers name. Blakey formed a new line-up in 1956 that would prove to be somewhat more stable. The most notable name at the time was Jackie McLean. At just 25 he had already recorded with Miles Davis and Charles Mingus. Bill Hardman, Sam Dockery and Jimmy "Spanky" DeBrest filled out the band. They recorded another record for Columbia, Hard Bop, then went on to work for several different labels including RCA subsidiary Vik Records, Pacific Jazz, Elektra, Cadet, Jubilee, Bethlehem and a date on Atlantic featuring Thelonious Monk.

Over this time the band's moniker evolved to include Blakey's name, starting with The Jazz Messengers featuring Art Blakey, then, Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers on several other releases and, for Cu-Bop (Jubilee, 1957), Art Blakey and his Jazz Messengers The Jazz Messengers remained a major jazz collective right through until Art Blakey's death in 1990, but the group's golden years were, by that juncture, long past, and it remains this seminal act's records from the mid-1950s through the mid-1960s for which the Jazz Messengers remain so fondly remembered. This superb collection features eight of the Jazz Messengers' finest records from this era, which feature, alongside maniman Art Blakey, the cream and most renowned players of the time.

Disc 1:
Infra-Rae
Nica's Dream
It's You Or No One
Ecaroh
Carol's Interlude
The End Of A Love Affair
Hank's Symphony
Cranky Spanky
Stella By Starlight
My Heart Stood Still
Little Melonae
Stanley's Stiff Chickens
Disc 2:
I Could Have Danced All Night
On The Street Where You Live
There But For You Go I
They Call The Wind Maria
I Talk To The Trees
Almost Like Being In Love
Woody 'n You
Sakeena
Shorty
Dawn On The Desert
Disc 3:
Evidence
In Walked Bud
Blue Monk
I Mean You
Rhythm-A-Ning
Purple Shades
À La Mode
Invitation
Circus
You Don't Know What Love Is
I Hear A Rhapsody
Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You
Disc 4:
Backstage Sally
Contemplation
Bu's Delight
Reincarnation Blues
Shaky Jake
Moon River
Caravan
Sweet 'N' Sour
In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning
This Is For Albert
Skylark
Thermo