Genre: Jazz
When Jazz made the big step from dance music to Modern Jazz with all its di erent playing styles in the 1940s, its harmony and rhythm became more and more complex and it moved away from his „primitive“ origins. Interestingly, however, this sparked an interest in the African roots of the music, fueled of course by the new self-consciousness of African Americans after World War II. The drummer Art Blakey traveled to Africa in 1947 in order to become more familiar with African polyrhythms. He used all of these experiences for albums like „Holidays for Skins“, which kicks o this comprehensive overview of the great drummers of Modern Jazz. Guy Warren from Ghana was one of the pioneers of the fusion of African music with Jazz, which went on to in uence many musicians in Africa as well as North America – from Fela Kuti to Duke Ellington. With his „Percussion Bittersweet“ Max Roach managed to create a wonderful work that confronts young avant-garde musicians such as Eric Dolphy with complex rhythms, enriching the mix with Abbey Lincoln’s new vocal accents. Two of the most important drummers of the „Swing into Bebop“-era cannot be left out: Gene Krupa and Jo Jones. Not least because of the successful drum battles at the popular Jazz At the Philharmonic concerts, encounters of the best drummers have always taken place for recording sessions as well, which fortunately presents all participants’ musical abilities. With Chico Hamilton, Philly Joe Jones, Elvin Jones, Shelly Manne, and Dave Bailey, some of the best drummers of the time present themselves in small and medium-sized ensembles without pushing their instruments into the foreground. A very special album is „The Drum Suite“ by Manny Albam and Ernie Wilkins, who also wrote scores for the participating drummers. Feat. Art Blakey, Max Roach, Gene Krupa, Jo Jones, Buddy Rich, Louis Bellson, Guy Warren, Philly Joe Jones, Elvin Jones, Shelly Manne, Donald Byrd, Stanley Turrentine, Clark Terry, Eric Dolphy, Abbey Lincoln, Mal Waldron, Coleman Hawkins, Dizzy Gillespie, Oscar Peterson, Cannonball Adderley, Lee Morgan, Benny Golson.
Tracklist:
CD1
A MESSAGE FROM BLAKEY HOLIDAY FOR SKINS VOL. I
1. The Feast (Art Blakey) 8.53
2. Aghano (Art Blakey) 6.03
3. Lamento Africano (Art Blakey) 8.22
4. Mirage (Art Blakey) 10.29
A MESSAGE FROM BLAKEY HOLIDAY FOR SKINS VOL. II
5. O‘Tinde (Art Blakey) 6.13
6. Swingin‘ Kilts (Ray Bryant) 8.49
7. Dinga (Art Blakey) 8.57
8. Reflection (Ray Bryant) 9.04
Art Blakey (dr), Philly Joe Jones (dr, tympani), Art Taylor (dr, gong),
Sabu Martinez (bongo, conga), Chonguito Vincente, Ray Barretto (conga),
Victor Gonzalez (bongo), Andy Delannoy (maracas, cowbell), Julio Martinez (conga,
tree-log), Fred Pagani Jr. (timbales), Donald Byrd (tp), Ray Bryant (p), Wendell Marshall
(b), Art Blakey, Philly Joe Jones, Sabu Martinez, Austin Cromer, Hal Rasheed (chants).
Recorded on November 9, 1958.
Total Time 66.52
CD2
MAX ROACH PERCUSSION BITTER SWEET
1. Garvey‘s Ghost (Max Roach) 7.52
2. Mama (Max Roach) 4.50
3. Tender Warriors(Max Roach) 6.52
4. Praise For A Martyr (Max Roach) 7.10
5. Mendacity (Max Roach, C. Bayen) 8.54
6. Man From South Africa (Max Roach) 5.13
Max Roach (dr), Abbey Lincoln (voc: 1, 5), Booker Little (tp), Julian Priester (tb),
Eric Dolphy (as, b-cl, fl), Clifford Jordan (ts), Mal Waldron (p), Art Davis (b),
Carlos ‚Potato‘ Valdez (conga: 1, 3, 6) Carlos ‚Totico‘ Eugenio (cow-bell: 1, 3, 6).
Recorded in New York City in August, 1961.
ART BLAKEY, CHARLIE PERSIP, ELVIN JONES, „PHILLY“ JOE JONES:
A GRETSCH DRUM NIGHT AT BIRDLAND VOL. I
7. Wee Dot (Jay Jay Johnson) 4.32
8. Fours 1.38
9. „Philly“ Joe Jones‘ Solo 1.22
10. Art Blakey‘s Solo — Segue — Finale 3.27
11. Now‘s The Time (Charlie Parker) 3.54
12. „Philly“ Joe Jones‘ Solo 1.02
13. Art Blakey‘s Solo 2.00
14. El Nino (Charles Greenle) 5.56
15. Fours 2.01
16. Drum Ensemble — Segue — Elvin Jones‘ Solo 1.57
17. Drum Ensemble — Segue — Charlie Persip‘s Solo 4.23
18. Drum Ensemble — Segue — Finale 1.33
„Philly“ Joe Jones, Art Blakey, Charlie Persip, Elvin Jones (dr), Charles Greenlee (tb),
Sylvester Kyner (as), Tommy Flanagan (p), Ron Carter (b).
Total Time 74.41
CD3
GENE KRUPA AND BUDDY RICH KRUPA AND RICH
1. Buddy‘s Blues (Buddy Rich) 10.31
2. Bernie‘s Tune (Miller, Leiber, Stoller) 13.57
3. Gene‘s Blues (Gene Krupa) 7.47
4. Sweethearts On Parade (Lombardo, Newman) 8.51
5. I Never Knew (Earl Carroll) 8.55
Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa (dr), Dizzy Gillespie, Roy Eldridge (tp), Flip Phillips, Illinois
Jacquet (ts), Herb Ellis (git), Oscar Peterson (p), Ray Brown (b).
Recorded May 16, 1955 in New York City.
Total Time 50.04
CD4
GENE KRUPA AND BUDDY RICH AT JATP DRUM BATTLE
1. Idaho (Jesse Stone) 6.46
2. Sophisticated Lady (Ellington, Mills, Parish) 4.39
3. Flying Home (Goodman, Hampton) 5.56
4. Drum Boogie (Krupa, Eldridge) 9.04
5. The Drum Battle (Norman Shrudlu) 3.36
Gene Krupa (dr), Buddy Rich (dr:5), Willie Smith (as), Hank Jones (p).
6. Perdido (Drake, Langsfelder, Tizol) 4.51
Charlie Shavers, Roy Eldridge (tp), Benny Carter (as), Flip Phillips, Lester Young (ts),
Barney Kessel (git), Oscar Peterson (p), Ray Brown (b), Buddy Rich (dr).
Recorded live at „Jazz At The Philharmonic“ in Carnegie Hall, N.Y on September 13,
1952.
JO JONES THE JO JONES SPECIAL
7. Shoe Shine Boy - First Take (Cahn, Chaplin) 5.53
8. Lover Man (Davis, Sherwood, Ramirez) 6.31
9. Georgia Mae (Jo Jones) 4.49
10. Caravan (Ellington, Mills) 4.01
11. Lincoln Heights (Jones, Thompson) 7.47
12. Embraceable You (G. & I. Gershwin) 6.43
13. Shoe Shine Boy - Second Take (Cahn, Chaplin) 5.19
Jo Jones (dr), Emmett Berry (tp), Benny Green (tb), Lucky Thompson (ts),
Freddie Greene (git), Nat Pierce (p: 8-12), Count Basie (p: 7, 13), Walter Page (b).
On track 4: Lawrence Brown (tb), Rudy Powell (as, cl), Pete Johnson (p).
Recorded August 11, 1955 in New York City, track 4 August 16, 1955
Total Time 75.58
CD5
BUDDY RICH AND MAX ROACH RICH AND ROACH
1. Sing, Sing, Sing (With A Swing) (Louis Prima) 4.11
2. The Casbah (Gigi Gryce) 4.29
3. Sleep (Earl Lebieg) 3.19
4. Figure Eights (Rich, Roach) 4.31
5. Yesterdays (Kern, Harbach) 5.42
6. Big Foot (Charlie Parker) 5.01
7. Limehouse Blues (Furber, Braham) 3.56
8. Toot, Toot, Tootsie Goodbye (Russo, Erdman, Kahn, Fiorito) 3.56
Buddy Rich, Max Roach (dr), Tommy Turrentine (tp), Julian Priester, Willie Dennis (tb),
Phil Woods (as), Stanley Turrentine (ts), John Bunch (p), Bobby Boswell, Phil Leshin (b).
Recorded in 1959.
LOUIS BELLSON SKIN DEEP
9. Skin Deep (Louis Bellson) 7.56
10. Claxton Hall Swing (Louis Bellson) 3.10
11. Phalanges (Clark Terry) 3.23
12. For Europeans Only (Dameron, Redman) 3.07
13. Copasetic (Martin, Elliott) 3.44
14 Fascinatin‘ Rhythm (G. & I. Gershwin) 4.20
15. Percussionistically Speaking (Louis Bellson) 8.02
16. All God‘s Chillun Got Rhythm (Jurmann, Kahn, Kapler) 2.59
17. Loris (Puma) 4.02
18. A Pearl For Louie (Martin) 3.59
Louis Bellson (dr), Conrad Gozzo , Harry Edison, Maynard Ferguson , Ray Linn (tp:tracks:9
- 12), Don Elliott (tp, mellophone, vibes: 13 - 18), Herbert Harper, Hoyt Bohannon ,
Tommy Peterson* ( tb: 9 - 12),Benny Carter , Willie Smith (as: 9 -12),
Bumps Meyers, Wardell Gray (ts: 9 - 12), Bob Lawson (brs: 9 -12),), Bob Peterson (b: 13
- 18), Barney Kessel (git: 9 - 12), Joe Puma (git: 13 - 18), Jimmy Rowles (p: 9 - 12), Ralph
Martin (p: 13 - 18), John Simmons (b: 9 - 12), Bob Peterson (b: 9 - 12).
Recorded in 1955.
Total Time 79.48
CD6
GUY WARREN WITH THE RED SAUNDERS ORCHESTRA AFRICA SPEAKS
AMERICA ANSWERS
1. Africa Speaks 3.58
2. Ode To A Stream 4.02
3. Duet 2.57
4. Eyi Wala Dong 2.19
5. Monkies And Butterflies 3.28
6. J.A.I.S.I. (Jazz As I See It) 4.37
7. Invocation Of The Horned Viper 2.41
8. Chant 4.10
9. My Minuet 2.34
10. The High Life 3.05
11. Eyes Of A Fawn 3.16
12. Fred Tone 3.18
Total Time 40.30
CD7
MANNY ALBAM ERNIE WILKINS THE DRUM SUITE
1. First Movement: Dancers On Drums (Ernie Wilkins) 5.20
2. Second Movement: Bristling (Manny Albam) 5.22
3. Third Movement: Chant Of The Witch Doctors (Manny Albam) 6.29
4. Fourth Movement: Skinning The Valves (Manny Albam) 6.07
5. Fifth Movement: Cymbalisms (Ernie Wilkins) 7.34
6. Sixth Movement: The Octopus (Ernie Wilkins) 6.01
Bernie Glow (tp: 1), Conte Candoli (tp: 3 - 5), Ernie Royal (tp: 4), Joe Ferrante (tp: 4), Joe
Newman (tp), Chauncey Welsch (tb: 3), Fred Ohms (tb: 3), Jimmy O‘Heigho (tb: 2),
Tommy Mitchell(tb: 3), Urbie Green (tb: 3), Al Epstein (english horn: 3),
Jimmy Buffington , John Barrows (french horn: 5), Ray Beckenstein (piccolo fl: 3)
Hal McKusick (as: 1, 2, 4), Al Cohn (cl: 3, ts: 2, 3, 6), Don Lamond, Gus Johnson, Osie
Johnson, Teddy Sommer (dr).
Recorded in 1956.
CHICO HAMILTON QUINTET IN HIFI
7. Jonalah (Carson Smith) 2.20
8. Chrissie (Jim Hall) 3.55
9. The Wind (Russ Freeman) 3.39
10. Gone Lover (When Your Lover Has Gone) (E. A. Swan) 3.54
11. The Ghost (Buddy Collette) 5.12
12. Sleepy Slept Here (Santa Monica) (Buddy Collette) 4.15
13. Takin‘ A Chance On Love (Latouch, Fetter, Duke) 4.15
14. The Squimp (Fred Katz) 1.53
15. Topsy (Durham, Battle) 4.53
16. Drums West (Chico Hamilton) 4.22
17. Sleep (Geibel, Burtnett) 2.30
Chico Hamilton (dr), Buddy Collette (as, ts, cl, fl), Carson Smith (b), Fred Katz (c),
Jim Hall (g).
Tracks 1-6 recorded in Los Angeles, January 4, 1956, tracks 7-9 in Los Angeles, February
10 & 13,1956 , track 10 in Stockton, CA, November 12 1954, track 11 in Los Angeles, 10
or 13 February 1956.
Total Time 78.04
CD8
PHILLY JOE JONES DRUMS AROUND THE WORLD
1. Blue Gwynn (Philly Joe Jones) 7.33
2. Stablemates (Benny Golson) 5.58
3. „El Tambores“ (Carioca) 4.32
4. The Tribal Message(Philly Joe Jones) 2.53
5. Cheroke (R. Noble) 8.19
6. Land Of The Blue Veils (Benny Golson 3.40
7. Philly J.J. (Tad Dameron) 10.14
Philly Joe Jones (dr), Blue Mitchell, Lee Morgan (tp), Curtis Fuller (tb),
Cannonball Adderley (as), Benny Golson (ts), Sahib Shihab (brs), Herbie Mann (fl),
Wynton Kelly (p), Jimmy Garrison, Sam Jones (b).
Recorded in New York City in May 1959.
Total Time 43.12
CD9
ELVIN JONES ELVIN
1. Lady Luck (Jones, Wess) 6.24
2. Buzz-At (Thad Jones) 6.35
3. Shadowland (Sara Cassey) 4.09
4. Pretty Brown (Ernie Wilkins) 3.34
5. Ray-El (Thad Jones) 8.07
6. Four And Six (Oliver Nelson) 5.05
7. You Are Too Beautiful (Rodgers, Hart) 4.26
Elvin Jones (dr), Thad Jones (cornet: except 4 & 6), Frank Wess (fl: except 4 & 6) ,Frank
Foster (ts: except 4, 6 & 7), Hank Jones (p), Art Davis (b).
Recorded at Plaza Sound Studios, New York City December 27, 1961 and January 3,
1962.
SHELLY MANNE 234
8. Take The „A“ Train (Billy Strayhorn) 7.36
9. The Sicks Of Us (Costa, Duvivier, Manne) 6.02
10. Slowly (Raksin, Goell) 5.37
11. Lean On Me (Green, Ed Waldman) 6.28
12. Cherokee (Ray Noble) 3.32
13. Me And Some Drums (Hawkins, Manne) 6.00
Shelly Manne (dr), Coleman Hawkins (ts), Hank Jones (p), Eddie Costa (p:4, vibes: 2),
George Duvivier (b).
Recorded February 5 and 8, 1962.
Total Time 73.37
CD10
DAVE BAILEY SEXTET ONE FOOT IN THE GUTTER
1. One Foot In The Gutter (Clark Terry) 10.55
2. Well You Needn‘t (Thelonious Monk) 11.55
3. Sandu (Cli ord Brown) 21.01
Dave Bailey (dr), Clark Terry (tp), Curtis Fuller (tb), Junior Cook (ts), Horace Parlan (p),
Peck Morrison (b).
Recorded at Columbia 30th Street Studio, New York City, on July 19 (1, 2) and 20 (3),
1960.
Total Time 43.53