Look at the names on that cover: Art Blakey on drums, Clifford Brown on trumpet, Lou Donaldson on Alto, Horace Silver on piano, and Curly Russell on Bass.Blue Note 1521 is a stone classic, one the real masterpieces of hard-bop. recorded in 1954, this music still has the transitory style, sort of one foot in be-bop, and perhaps not quite full blow hard-bop?
Personally I love this style, Joe Lovano has an album from the year 2000 that reminds of this style, 52nd Street Themes.
Again the highlight on this and many other Blakey albums is the Dizzy Gillespie standard "A Night in Tunisia". This time the track is taken at straight ahead bop pace, no explosive drum pyrotechnics, but it is Blakey of course. Some very Parker-like Lou Donaldson alto work stands out. Of course the stellar trumpet work of Clifford Brown who would be killed in a car accident just 2 years later at the age 26, shines very brightly on this incredible record.
The early Blue Note sound, and practically every variation of it to follow, seemed to follow the lead of drummer Blakey and Perhaps pianist Silver with his own bands?
The 50's and 60's style that ruled the label for so long undeniably has Blakey's imprint. Only fusion and the avant-garde could remotely wrestle that influence away in the late 60's under Lion's ownership. I suspect this has a lot to do with the Blue Note label owner Alfred Lion being a fan of music that swings, and nobody swung harder than Blakey. After Lion sold the label to Liberty all bets were off, and soul-funk fusion was the main vibe on Blue Note.
Quintessential Hard-Bop Tracks on Vol 1:
Horace Silver's "Quicksilver" is my favorite from Vol. 1. Such a fine example of 50's hard bop. Man this thing charges out the gate as the name implies. Cookin' is the word, and this thing oozes that late 40's manic bop sound.
Donaldson and Brown rip it up over the top of the comping piano and pulsating bass, with Blakey propelling the music to explosive heights.Brown, still today, 60 years after his death is considered one of the best ever, and he proves it here. Lee Morgan and Freddie Hubbard were direct descendants to Brown.
Another Silver vehicle is the lead off track "Split Kick" which also has the classic introduction of the band by disc jockey Symphony Sid.
Another one of these classic bop/hard-bop hybrids, I wish I could sit right down in that audience I know that.
You can get access to this music a few ways:
Check out the Lead off track below from Vol.1: Also Vol. 2 shouldn't be missed with a killer performance of Parker's "Confirmation" .
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