The late 1950’s
If I could go time-traveling, I would definitely head to the USA in 1958. From January to December, there was so much music happening. Obviously Elvis Presley and Ray Charles were on the hit chart, but the Jazz scene was still hot. Miles, Coltrane, Messengers, Bill Evans, Quincy, Lionel Hampton, Ella, and so on. West Coast Jazz was also hot, Stan Kenton in Hollywood, Art Pepper, Gerry Mulligan, Chet Baker. I can imagine how exciting these days were. Radios, records, night clubs, so much delight. I’d be a witness of changing music history. Maybe I’d work for Atlantic Records!
1989 Sweet Basil
Let’s talk about Art Blakey. (he is my main agenda today!) I met him at Sweet Basil in 1989. Just the same as when I watched Miles at Indigo Blues, but not at his gig. I was the audience of Ron Carter’s night. I remember Blakey came out of the backstage while the band was playing. He walked slowly toward the audience, passed the table and sat on the table terrace. I recognized Art Blakey because of the large picture on the wall of the venue. He was the same guy! The most surprising thing was that I was the only person who was surprised. The shop staff said he was always hanging out there so that the scene was just an ordinary day. What a nice place Manhattan was! I talked to Blakey after the show. He welcomed boys from Japan and enjoyed my cigarette that I gave him. He was a nice grandfather and remembered Mt. Fuji Jazz Festival which he had played a couple times. I had no idea that I would play Jazz years later at that time, he was just a “picture legend” at the venue. I think that was such a wonderful experience for now. That was the first and last chance for me, he passed almost one year later, October 16th, 1990.
Blakey School
Art Blakey was not just a band leader, but a kind of “tutor” for young cats. In his band The Jazz Messengers, Blakey found and raised many young talents;
Sax – Jackie McLean, Johnny Griffin, Wayne Shorter, John Gilmore, Billy Harper, Bobby Watson, Benny Golson, Branford Marsalis
Tp – Lee Morgan, Freddie Hubbard, Woody Shaw, Wynton Marsalis, Randy Brecker
Tb – Curtis Fuller, Slide Hampton
Piano – Cedar Walton, Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea, Joanne Brackeen
It seems like that band was “Blakey Jazz School”. Many of them became leaders and made histories, at least they have accomplished a greater part of the music industry.
The Jazz Messengers were formed in late1950’s, Two Hard Bop Stars, Art Blakey and Horace Silver were the foundation of the beginning. The band had played a prominent role in the tough Jazz decades until Blakey died in 1990. While most players went different styles such as cool, fusion, electric, etc, Messengers had gone just straight ahead. That was significant. In the 1970’s and 1980’s when Jazz had faded out of the mainstream music scene like almost undergrounded, still young talents could grow up in the band. The Jazz Messengers had been lighting Jazz for decades, gotten through generations, and brought messages from old cats.
What We Miss Today
I know there were many leaders who raised their band members as established musicians. Ellington, Miles, Baisie, etc.. But none of them like Blakey did. He pulled in young talents and pushed them out as mature Jazz musicians. We’ve never seen such a great band leader for a while, have we? We’ve never seen such a strong charisma who has generosity, sincerity, and passion for music. And his character is enthusiastic enough that everyone wants to join his band, and learn.
Of course, the time changed, the audience’s behavior changed, other circumstances like media, venues, record companies changed. The mainstream of music changed. Nothing is the same as the 1950’s, even from the 1990’s either. Maybe it’s old-fashioned to look for a person like Blaley, people do music for their own. Maybe it’s not a trend for young talents to join a band, then learn the heritage of our art and culture. Well, I understand that, but I just miss the days. I gotta tell you It was definitely more exciting than today. Those were the days that musicians’ hearts were respected so that they could play music with their passion, dedication, ambition, exploration and dignity, like Art Blakey did. That’s what he taught in his Messengers.
Art Never Die
I still have a hope for Jazz. We have seen many “nouveau” in art and music history so far. Jazz might happen again somewhere, sometime. Improvisation, spontaneity, happening, all these do not come from A.I. or M.L. kind of things, but are provided by true human playing. I do hope!!
However when the time comes, who’s gonna teach Jazz? For both the player and the audience!
