The first stable formation of Art Blakey’s celebrated “Jazz Messengers” was born in 1954, and consisted of Kenny Dorham, Hank Mobley, Horace Silver and Doug Watkins. That exact group recorded the Blue Note LP The Jazz Messengers at the Cafe Bohemia in November of 1955. The 1957 date released on Ritual contains a lengthy drum piece by Blakey. This was not his greatest group, although alto saxophonist Jackie McLean was among the hardest blowers he ever employed. Bassist Spanky Debrest and trumpeter Bill Hardman were good musicians, but a notch below the others who filled their roles in future Messenger editions. ART BLAKEY, drums & leader BILL HARDMAN, trumpet JACKIE McLEAN, alto sax SAM DOCKERY, piano SPANKY DeBREST, bass New York, January 14 (A1, A3 & B3) & February 11 (A2, B1, B2 & B4), 1957. Original recordings produced by George Avakian.
