Drums Around The Corner

Drums Around The Corner

The collector's items here include six previously unreleased tracks from an all-star drum ensemble session that Art Blakey led in 1958 with Philly Joe Jones, Roy Haynes, and Ray Barretto. The only one of five such recordings Blakey made for Blue Note from 1957 to 1962 that was not originally released, the date also features trumpeter Lee Morgan, pianist Bobby Timmons, and bassist Jymie Merritt, then members of Blakey's illustrious Jazz Messengers. The master drummers shine as soloists on rhythmic romps like Charlie Parker's bebop classic "Moose the Mooche" and the standard "Lover," while Barretto uses mallets for a memorable conga solo on Blakey's "Drums in the Rain." The CD concludes with two gems, duets Blakey recorded in 1959 with bassist Paul Chambers, including a previously unreleased version of "What Is This Thing Called Love" featuring remarkable bow work, and "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm." <I>--Mitchell Feldman</I>