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John Fielding Walsh's avatar

the most underrated man in jazz history

Edgar McGee's avatar

The Jazz Messengers played in my hometown around 1977 and made it onto the cover of the

phone book.

Russ Paladino's avatar

Was fortunate to see the band with the Marsalis brothers and Billy Pierce in the 80s, at Fat Tuesdays in NYC. Sat right up against the stage railing with the bells of their horns in my face. What a time to be alive!

Manuela Thiess Garcia's avatar

Oh, here is one I do remember, and well. Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers! And "Moanin'" and "Night in Tunisia." But of course, I knew nothing of his history, and the profound effect he had, nor would I be able to pick him out from other drummers, like Max Roach.

So, every bit of knowledge makes one grow. Gracias!

William Beran's avatar

One of my never to be forgotten music memories was an afternoon at the Famous Ballroom in Baltimore probably about 1982. The Famous had regular Sunday programs that would go from 3pm to about 8pm, and the admission was just $6.00. The day the Messengers were there (the Blanchard/Harrison iteration if memory serves) there was a power outage but since it was an afternoon program natural light was still coming in so it wasn’t total darkness. Blakey and his guys just kept playing as if nothing had happened. What a bandleader, what a band. I’m just sorry I never got to hear the Lee Morgan Messengers, one of the greatest bands that ever was.