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The Jazz Messengers

This article is about The Jazz Messengers group. For the album, see The Jazz Messengers (1956 album).
"Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers" redirects here. For their self-titled albums, see Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers (disambiguation).
The Jazz Messengers
The Jazz Messengers in 1960. From left: Lee Morgan, Wayne Shorter (obscured), Jymie Merritt, and Art Blakey
The Jazz Messengers in 1960. From left: Lee Morgan, Wayne Shorter (obscured), Jymie Merritt, and Art Blakey
Background information
Genres
Years active1955 (1955)–1990 (1990)
Labels
Past membersSee Former members

The Jazz Messengers were a jazz combo that existed for over thirty-five years beginning in the early 1950s as a collective,[1][2][3] and ending when long-time leader and founding drummer Art Blakey died in 1990.[4] Blakey led or co-led the group from the outset.[2] "Art Blakey" and "Jazz Messengers" became synonymous over the years, though Blakey did lead non-Messenger recording sessions and played as a sideman for other groups throughout his career.[5][6][7]

"Yes sir, I'm gonna to stay with the youngsters. When these get too old, I'm gonna get some younger ones. Keeps the mind active."

— Art Blakey, A Night at Birdland, Vol. 2 (CD)[8]

The group evolved into a proving ground for young jazz talent. While veterans occasionally re-appeared in the group, by and large, each iteration of the Messengers included a lineup of new young players. Having the Messengers on one's resume was a rite of passage in the jazz world, and conveyed immediate bona fides.[5][6][7][9]

Many former members of the Jazz Messengers established careers as solo musicians, such as Lee Morgan, Benny Golson, Wayne Shorter, Freddie Hubbard, Bobby Timmons, Hank Mobley, Curtis Fuller, Cedar Walton, Billy Harper, Keith Jarrett, Joanne Brackeen, Woody Shaw, Chuck Mangione, Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, Terence Blanchard, Donald Harrison and Mulgrew Miller.[3][5][7] Some members, such as bassist Clarence Seay and Gregory Charles Royal,[10][11] are documented to have played in the Jazz Messengers but did not record with the group.

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  10. ^ Bock, Gordon (10 January 1979). "The Telegraph – Google News Archive Search". Google News. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
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