Mercury Records Collection: EmArcy MG-26030: Blakey Featuring Art Blakey

MG-26030: Blakey Featuring Art Blakey

Label Type :	blue EmArcy type A
Matrix Number :	SIDE-A	YMG26030A M B
	SIDE-B	YMG26030B M B

Comments

pressed by the 2nd stamper: the disc has several scuffs, but plays rather excellent.

All tunes are also available on EP-1-6050 and EP-1-6051.

Inside The Groove

A great Hard-Bop session led by Art Blakey with Joe Gordon: a companion for MG-26046.

Personal Impression (and brief notes)

Art Blakey appeared on several early EmArcy recording sessions such as MG-26046 and MG-36009, and this 10-inch LP is the only leader session he left on EmArcy.

The quintet consists of one horn (Joe Gordon) and one reed (Gigi Gryce), plus steady rhythm section featuring Walter Bishop. We must notice that Blakey is always Blakey: propulsive and progressive rim shot heard on this album is really excellent. And of course Joe Gordon plays so brilliant as on his leader session.

Unlike EmArcy colours (tends to be West-Coast), a nice Hard-Bop session.

Strictly Personal Rating (to what extent I could enjoy this album)

10 out of 10

Track Listing

SIDE-A
A-1	10542	Minority	-
A-2	10543	Salute To Birdland	-
A-3	10544	Eleanor	-
A-4	10545	Futurity	-
SIDE-B
B-1	10546	Simplicity	-
B-2	10547	Strictly Romantic	-
B-3	10548	Hello	-
B-4	10549	Mayrah	-

Personnel

Personnel/recorded date/master numbers confirmed with the Ruppli's discography.
(“The Mercury Labels - A Discography” by Ruppli and Novitsky, Greenwood Press, 1993)

All eight tracks are now available on recent CD reissue (Verve 314 538 634-2 with EmArcy MG-36025 tracks plus two more.

Art Blakey (ds) with:
Joe Gordon (tp), Gigi Gryce (as), Walter Bishop Jr. (p) Bernard Griggs (b).
A-4: add unknown (perc).
Recorded Fine Sound Studios, New York City on May 20, 1954.