This third live recording at San Francisco's Keystone Korner in the late '70s and early '80s of drummer
Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers is significant for many reasons. It marks the final ushering out of the famous band that was fronted at times by
David Schnitter,
Curtis Fuller,
Bobby Watson, and
Valery Ponomarev, with
Bill Pierce then the lone holdout. It is the first recording to include alto saxophonist
Branford Marsalis (who specialized on tenor and soprano sax,) and teams him with brother
Wynton Marsalis and
Pierce on a formidable, compact front line. Memphis continues to be represented as
Donald Brown takes over for
James Williams, and New Orleans bass wizard
Charles Fambrough remains. The result is an ultra-melodic band of
Messengers who instrumentally sing together, swing hard, and are completely commanded by an energetic and powerful rhythm machine in
Blakey, at the time in his early sixties. The show starts with a rousing version of "In Walked Bud," with the front line instrumentally singing this famous melody,
Wynton growling on his solo, and
Branford lyrically sounding like
Charlie Parker. "In a Sentimental Mood" is a feature for
Pierce without the brothers, as
Brown's chiming comping piano buoys the measured tenor sax. The next three pieces are remainders of the previous bands. "Fuller Love," the
Bobby Watson tribute to
Curtis Fuller, is a 6/8 modal line full of energy, as biting and precise harmonic bass and horns stab with
Blakey's driving rhythms all signify the best hard bop offers in modern times. "Waterfall" is the magnum opus of the set, as the horns ascend and descend dynamically in perfect in and out changes,
Wynton's solo double-timed to bop pace the highlight. "A La Mode" is the famous composition of
Fuller's played to exacting specs in hushed tones with
Brown perfectly shadowing the horns, while
Blakey dominates and commands the troops in building tension, then halting them at will. Of the many live recordings with different Jazz Messengers lineups, this ranks among their best, and is a springboard for what the Marsalis brothers would offer as artists in their own right. With
Blakey, this combination was special. ~ Michael G. Nastos