Chippin' In

Full performer name: Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers.
Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers inlcudes: Art Blakey, Frank Lacy, Steve Davis, Geoff Keezer, Brian Lynch, Javon Jackson, Dale Barlow, Essiet Okon Essiet.
Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on February 1 & 2, 1990.
35 years after first officially forming The Jazz Messengers, drummer Art Blakey entered his final year still at it. Due to the many promising young players around at the time, Blakey expanded The Messengers from its usual quintet or sextet into a septet for this fine recording session. In addition to trumpeter Brian Lynch, pianist Geoff Keezer and bassist Essiet Okon Essiet, this version of The Messengers had two tenors (Javon Jackson and Dale Barlow) and a pair of alternating trombonists (Frank Lacy and Steve Davis). Quite typically, other than Wayne Shorter's obscure "Hammerhead" and two standards, all of the material on this CD was new and composed by Blakey's sidemen. Because Blakey constantly persuaded his musicians to write music, The Jazz Messengers stayed young in spirit, just like its leader. A fine effort. ~ Scott Yanow