Art Blakey

October 11th – Art Blakey’s birthday.  In 2013 there is 94 years since he was born.


Art Blakey – an inventive jazz musician, bandleader of bebop era.
For modern bebop drumming integrating hard bob, blues he cared.
Blakey transitioned from playing piano to the drums and percussion,
Which gained him popularity, acclaim, the public’s thrilling reaction.

“Jazz Tiger” was fierce, forceful performing jazz, possessing musicality.
Impacted by, evolving from swing drummers, he showed universality.
Art had created a trademark using feel, timing, polyrhythms, intensity.
For louder playing without compromising harmony he had propensity.

Blakey’s performance was engaging, vibrant, inspiring and electrifying.
He layered a foundation to modern jazz that to this day is still undying.
Art utilized drums as a tool to innovate jazz style, evolve, grow, polish.
He was successful, efficient to have it planted, nourished, established.

He was a bandleader for “Jazz Messengers” – a band with skill and gift.
Members performed jazz music that was rhythmically novel and swift.
Their “music of survival” fused blues, gospel, bebop to create new style,
Which lasted and preserved by professional musicians for eternal while.

Blakey was known as an insightful mentor, gifted teacher of his band.
He educated musicians, their quality performance he would demand.
Encouraging them to learn, play, move ahead, creating their own band,
Art had developed, promoted his music trademark, signature or brand.

October 11th - birthday of Art Blakey, an influential artist of jazz epoch.
Art and his band’s masterful performances - appreciated by music folk.
Contributing to genre changes, with modern jazz been born, emerged,
Blakey was credited for his unique, innovative musical style, approach.


Copyright©2013 Mila Alper


* Photo is from the Internet