Drummer
Art Blakey and the 1989 version of his
Jazz Messengers (with trumpeter
Brian Lynch, tenor saxophonist
Javon Jackson, trombonist
Frank Lacy, pianist
Geoff Keezer and bassist
Buster Williams) celebrated the leader's 70th birthday by welcoming back several notable alumni: trumpeters
Freddie Hubbard and
Terence Blanchard, altoists
Jackie McLean and
Donald Harrison, tenors
Wayne Shorter and
Benny Golson, pianist
Walter Davis Jr. and trombonist
Curtis Fuller. This single CD has some of the highlights of the British concert, although one wishes that the entire date had been released, for some of the musicians only make cameo appearances. Highlights include the opportunities to hear
Shorter in this setting (he is well featured on "Lester Left Town") and versions of "Along Came Betty" and "Blues March" that contain short solos from many of the players. In addition,
Michele Hendricks sings
Horace Silver's words to "Mr. Blakey"; drummer
Roy Haynes plays second drums on "Blues March"; and the CD concludes with a nearly-13 minute interview that
Mike Hennessey conducted with
Blakey in 1976 in which the drummer reminisces about
the Jazz Messengers' early days. Well worth picking up.