Art Blakey Essay - 1393 Words

Art Blakey was born to a poor family in the heart of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1919. He was working in the steel and coal mills when he was only fourteen. There were no child labor laws in those times. He had to work to help support his family and put food on the table. Blakey turned to music as a way of escaping the exhausting day-to-day labor of the mills. Blakey taught himself how to play the piano. Even though he couldnt read music, and could only play songs in three keys, Blakey was a crowd favorite a several local venues. He used to make fifteen-twenty dollars a night in tips every night he went. At fifteen Blakey was leading his own band. They were small and unknown, but played at clubs all around the city. One night†¦show more content†¦At age 20 Blakey joined up and toured with Fletcher Henderson. Henderson helped Blakey to discover new and more diverse drum rhythms. He also helped him perfect his already unique style of drumming. While with Hendersons band, Blakey crossed paths with jazz greats like Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. One night while on a break from performing, Gillespie pulled Blakey to the side and taught him the one thing that would define Blakeys drum style for the rest of his life. When the band returned on stage Henderson, Blakey, and the rest of the band began to play like normal. When suddenly out of nowhere Blakeys bass drum rang out on the offbeat. It was a very powerful, very loud, very noticeably, change and the crowd loved it. Dropping Bombs became one of Art Blakeys trademarks as a percussionist. While touring with Fletcher Henderson, Blakey developed a strong affinity for the bop style. He forged a crisp, driving sound, and he loved to play loud. With ferocious cymbal attacks, unpredictably crescendos, brush rolls, and with out a doubt his insanely loud bombs, Blakey was destined for greatness. While still with Hendersons band Blakey started doing recordings on the side. He met pianist Mary Lou Williams, and did a few recordings with her. His big recording break however, came when he met the legendary piano player Thelonious Monk. He and Monk recorded several modern, very important tracks together. These recordings, made ArtShow MoreRelatedKeith Jarrett : An American Musician2332 Words   |  10 Pagestune, he looked to the back bar and saw Art Blakey watching. Lee Morgan had just left the Jazz Messengers, and Blakey was rebuilding his band; talk about being at the right place at the right time. A couple of nights later, Keith got a phone call from Blakey asking him to join the new Jazz Messengers. After just four months with the Jazz Messengers, Keith had enough of the grueling tours and poor organization of the group. There is a clear tension between Art and Keith on the 1966 record, ‘ButtercornRead MoreMiles Davis Essay1364 Words   |  6 Pageslife - with my clothes on - was when I first heard Diz and bird together in St. Louis†¦ back in 1944.â₠¬  (Davis 1) He just graduated from high school, having seen this show with Dizzy, Charlie Parker, Buddy Anderson, Gene Ammons, Lucky Thompson, and Art Blakey in the same band at one time, Miles caught the real jazz for the first time. â€Å"It was a mother fucker†¦ Music all up in my body, and that what to wanted to hear.†(Davis 1) This show would serve as the building blocks of his massive career and artisticRead MoreWho is Miles Davis?565 Words   |  2 PagesHe met Charlie Parker in 1945 and played with him through 1948, while he was also playing with other bands and groups and touring big bands like Billy Eckstine and Benny Carter. 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