Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers - Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers (with Thelonious Monk) (Remastered Deluxe Edition) (1958/2022)

Most of the titles on this album are derived from Thelonious Monk's vast catalog of bop standards. Both co-leaders are at the peak of their respective prowess with insightful interpretations of nearly half a dozen inspired performances from this incarnation of the Blakey-led Jazz Messengers. This combo features Art Blakey (drums), Johnny Griffin (tenor sax), Bill Hardman (trumpet), and Spanky Debrest (bass). Immediately, Hardman ups the ante with a piledriving lead during "Evidence" that underscores the heavy-hitting nature of this particular jazz confab.

Monk counters with some powerful and inspired runs that are sonically splintered by the enthusiastic – if not practically percussive – chord progressions and highly logistic phrasings from the pianist. The inherent melodic buoyancy on "In Walked Bud" contains a springboard-like quality, with Griffin matching Monk's bounce measure for measure. Griffin's incessant efforts create a freshness to the tune that often escapes other less inspired readings. From Blakey's boisterous opening on "Blue Monk" through to Monk's single-note crescendo during the finale, the Jazz Messengers provide a lethargic propulsion that showcases the melody's bluesy origins. This directly contrasts the uptempo charge of "Rhythm-A-Ning." The quirky yet catchy chorus glides with the dual-lead horn section as the entire arrangement is tautly bound by the understated Debrest and Blakey. Griffin's "Purple Shades" is the only non-Monk composition that this aggregate recorded. This smartly syncopated blues seems better suited for the Jazz Messengers than for Monk. However, the pianist's opening solo alternately shimmers and shudders with Debrest as well as Griffin and Hardman, who demonstrate their own pronounced capabilities over Monk's otherwise occasional counterpoint.

In May of 1957, Art Blakey and his Jazz Messengers went into the studio with Thelonious Monk to record a one-off album for Atlantic. The Jazz Messengers were a loose collective of young Jazz musicians, with a constantly rotating lineup to keep the music fresh, and help launch new careers (akin to today's hip hop collectives). Blakey had recorded with Monk on various occasions, but this was the first time Monk sat in with the Jazz Messengers. The result is a true meeting of the minds, a beautiful union of Monk's melodies with Blakey's unshakable sense of swing, and Thelonious Monk's only appearance on Atlantic. This 65th anniversary deluxe edition includes an extra disc of previously unreleased outtakes, celebrating the most sensational jazz collaboration of the 1950's.

Tracklist
1. Evidence (with Thelonious Monk)[2022 Remaster] (6:44)
2. In Walked Bud (with Thelonious Monk)[2022 Remaster] (6:38)
3. Blue Monk (with Thelonious Monk)[2022 Remaster] (7:49)
4. I Mean You (with Thelonious Monk)[2022 Remaster] (8:00)
5. Rhythm-A-Ning (with Thelonious Monk)[2022 Remaster] (7:19)
6. Purple Shades (with Thelonious Monk)[2022 Remaster] (7:38)
7. Evidence (Take 2)[with Thelonious Monk][2022 Remaster] (6:21)
8. In Walked Bud (Take 2)[with Thelonious Monk][2022 Remaster] (6:21)
9. Blue Monk (Take 9)[with Thelonious Monk][2022 Remaster] (7:03)
10. I Mean You (Take 3)[with Thelonious Monk][2022 Remaster] (7:35)
11. Rhythm-A-Ning (Take 2)[with Thelonious Monk][2022 Remaster] (7:13)
12. Purple Shades (Take 4)[with Thelonious Monk][2022 Remaster] (7:12)