Drum Suite

by Art Blakey

Drum Suite cover art
  • Type: Album
  • Released: June 1957
  • Label: Columbia
  • Country: United States
  • Length: 40:45
  • Community rating: 3.79/5 from 6 ratings

Artists on this release: Ray Bryant, Candido, Specs Wright, Jo Jones, Bill Hardman, SabĂş MartĂ­nez, Sam Dockery

Album Notes & Community Reviews

Splitting its focus across two distinct conceptual halves, this ambitious project deeply explores the intersection of hard bop and complex global polyrhythms. One side features an expansive, multi-part percussion suite utilizing African and Latin drumming ensembles, significantly predating the wider world-jazz fusion movement. The remaining tracks showcase the powerhouse swinging capabilities of the standard Messengers lineup.

Genres

Descriptors: instrumental, improvisation, rhythmic, suite, acoustic, percussive, ensemble, polyrhythmic

Tracklist

  1. The Sacrifice
  2. Cubano Chant
  3. Oscalypso
  4. Nica's Tempo (8:19)
  5. D's Dilemma (8:28)
  6. Just For Marty (5:48)

Credits

  • Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers - primary artist, drums, written-by
  • Jackie McLean - alto saxophone [alto]
  • Candido - bongos
  • Sabu Martinez - bongos, written-by
  • Spanky DeBrest - double bass [bass]
  • Oscar Pettiford - double bass [bass], cello, written-by
  • Jo Jones - drums
  • Specs Wright - drums, timpani [tympani], gong
  • Art Blakey - Written-By
  • Ray Bryant - Written-By
  • Gigi Gryce - Written-By
  • Mal Waldron - Written-By
  • Bill Hardman - Written-By

More from Art Blakey: full discography