Born in Pittsburgh on this day in 1919, the great drummer/bandleader Art Blakey earned his place on many lists of the top jazz drummers ever (this list has the “polyrhythmic percussion powerhouse” at #1). As the longtime leader of The Jazz Messengers, Blakey also left his legacy as a mentor and nurturer of young talent. On Feb. 27, 2020, Jimmy’s sister restaurant The Atlantic Grill was privileged to host The Messenger Legacy, an elite lineup of former members of Blakey’s Jazz Messengers led by drummer Ralph Peterson. Here’s a quick story and video from that memorable show and a vintage Art Blakey solo.
