A while back, my friend Elexis and I were actively gossiping about people. To be clear, I don't necessarily like to participate in gossip (although I have), but I do like to listen to it. At any rate, Elexis said that she had recently stuck up for me to someone else who apparently had issues with me. Now I'll be the first to admit that sometimes I can rub some people the wrong way. I never do it intentionally or maliciously, but it does happen occasionally and, even after all these years, it still bothers me when it does. Elexis apparently told this person that the only "negative" thing she could think of to say about me is that I occasionally listen to jazz music.
This statement still amuses me no end for any number of reasons. First of all, I would have thought that my predilection for bagpipe music would have been more offensive than my love of jazz. I'm also cutting Elexis a lot of slack because she's only known me for six years. Anyone--including myself--who's known me longer can think of any number of toxic traits that are far more egregious than my taste in music. But I'll still take it as a tremendous compliment. Of course, ever since then, whenever I catch myself playing jazz music--even just randomly on my phone--all I can think is, "There goes Will, listening to that jazz music again!"
So this week, I feel compelled to share one of my favourite jazz albums. I first picked it up in college at a shop on the south end of the Ball State campus called the Discount Den. It sold a lot of BSU swag, t-shirts, magazines, slushies, playing cards, etc. Any time I had spare money, I could usually be seen browsing the CD racks that lined the wall next to the checkout counter. I bought a lot of music there in my four years at BSU and exposed myself to all sorts of different styles of music. But the Den was where I really discovered some of my favourite jazz artists, especially Art Blakey whom I consider to be my second favourite drummer of all time (behind the late, great Charlie Watts).
This week's album was my introduction to Blakey's music. I was trying to expose myself to more jazz. I knew Blakey by name and knew he was a drummer. I essentially bought it on a whim and, more than 30 years later, I'm glad I did. It was recorded live at the legendary Birdland jazz club in New York City on 15 April, 1959. According to Wikipedia, four of the ten (really nine) songs performed had been recorded in the studio just a few weeks prior for an album called Just Coolin'. For some reason, that album was held back and this album was released in its place. (Just Coolin' would not be released until 2020--more than 60 years after the fact--as part of an extended celebration of Blakey's 100th birthday.) Originally released in two volumes in September and October of 1959, this album features introductions by Birdland's MC extraordinaire Pee Wee Marquette. With saxophonist Hank Mobley, trumpeter Lee Morgan, pianist Bobby Timmons, and bassist Jymie Merritt, please enjoy Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers At the Jazz Corner of the World.
Until next week, stay safe be good to your neighbours, and please remember that if at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
Yours in peace, love, and rock and roll!
The Reverend Will the Thrill
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