Art Blakey - Art Blakey Big Band
Art Blakey – drums [click here to see more vinyl featuring Art Blakey]
Donald Byrd – trumpet [click here to see more vinyl featuring Donald Byrd]
John Coltrane – tenor saxophone [click here to see more vinyl featuring John Coltrane]
Walter Bishop, Jr. – piano
Wendell Marshall – bass
Ray Copeland (A1-2, B1-4), Bill Hardman (A1-2, B1-4), Idrees Sulieman (A1-2, B1-4) - trumpet
Frank Rehak (A1-2, B1-4), Jimmy Cleveland (A1-2, B1-4), Melba Liston (A1-2, B1-4) - trombone
Bill Graham (A1-2, B1-4), Sahib Shihab (A1-2, B1-4) – alto saxophone (A1-2, B1-4)
Al Cohn (A1-2, B1-4) – tenor saxophone
Bill Slapin (A1-2, B1-4) – baritone saxophone
Written by Gerald Valentine (A1), Al Cohn (A2, B4), Donald Byrd (A3), John Coltrane (A4), Charles Gambel (B1-2), Chiefy Salaam (B1-2), Melba Liston (B3)
1 LP, standard sleeve
Original analog Master tape: YES
Heavy Press : 180g
Record color : black
Speed : 33 RPM
Size : 12'’
Stereo
Studio
Record Press : unspecified (Canada)
Label: Bethlelem
Original Label : Bethlelem
Recorded in New York City in December, 1957
Produced by Lee Kraft
Originally released in January 1959
Reissued in May 2023
Tracks :
Side A:
- Midriff
- Ain't Life Grand
- Tippin'
- Pristine
Side B:
- El Torro
- The Kiss of No Return
- Late Date
- The Outer World
Reviews :
“Throughout his long career as a bandleader, drummer Art Blakey very rarely played with big bands. This Bethlehem date was a one-shot affair, an opportunity for his powerful drumming to be heard propelling a 15-piece orchestra through a set of mostly new material. With such soloists as John Coltrane (who is also featured on two quintet numbers), trombonist Jimmy Cleveland and trumpeters Donald Byrd and Ray Copeland, this was a potentially mighty band; its arrangers included Melba Liston and Al Cohn. This LP is worth searching for.” AllMusic Review by Scott Yanow
Ratings :
AllMusic : 2.5 / 5 ; Discogs : 4.18 / 5