At the Jazz Corner of the World

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At the Jazz Corner of the World
Live album by
ReleasedSeptember/October 1959[1]
RecordedApril 15, 1959
VenueBirdland, NYC
GenreJazz
Length78:03
LabelBlue Note
BLP 4015 (Vol. 1)
BLP 4016 (Vol. 2)
ProducerAlfred Lion
Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers chronology
Art Blakey et les Jazz-Messengers au club St. Germain
(1958)
At the Jazz Corner of the World
(1959)
Les Liaisons Dangereuses 1960
(1959)

At the Jazz Corner of the World, Vols. 1 & 2 are a pair of separate but related live albums by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, recorded at the Birdland jazz club in New York City on April 15, 1959 and released on Blue Note later that year in September and October respectively.[2] The quintet features horn section Lee Morgan and Hank Mobley and rhythm section Bobby Timmons, Jymie Merritt and Art Blakey.

Background[edit]

Recording[edit]

The performance features four songs that had also been recorded in-studio just five weeks earlier for Just Coolin’, an album that was subsequently shelved in favor of releasing At the Jazz Corner of the World. Just Coolin’ remained unreleased until July 2020, when it was put out by Blue Note as part of an extended celebration of Blakey’s Centennial.[3]

Release history[edit]

The album was originally issued on 12-inch LPs in two volumes (BLP 4015 and 4016) and later re-released as a two-CD double album.

Reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[4]
DownBeat[5]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings[6]

The AllMusic review by Michael G. Nastos states, "This band was as definitive a modern jazz ensemble as there ever was, and the immaculately chosen repertoire elevates this to one of the greatest live jazz sessions ever, and belongs on the shelf of all serious jazz listeners."[4]

Track listing[edit]

At the Jazz Corner of the World, Volume 1[edit]

Side 1
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Hipsippy Blues"Hank Mobley9:26
2."Justice"Thelonious Monk7:37
3."The Theme"Traditional2:18
Side 2
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Close Your Eyes"Bernice Petkere10:58
2."Just Coolin'"Mobley8:11

At the Jazz Corner of the World, Volume 2[edit]

Side 1
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Chicken an' Dumplins"Ray Bryant7:26
2."M & M"Mobley6:41
3."Hi-Fly"Randy Weston8:00
Side 2
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Theme"Traditional9:13
2."Art's Revelation"Gildo Mahones8:13

Personnel[edit]

Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers[edit]

Technical personnel[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Billboard". October 5, 1959.
  2. ^ Art Blakey discography, accessed January 31, 2011.
  3. ^ "Never-Before-Released Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers Alubm "Just Coolin'" Due Out July 17". Blue Note. 20 March 2020. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  4. ^ a b Nastos, M. G. Allmusic review, accessed January 31, 2011.
  5. ^ Wilson, John S. (7 January 1960). "Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers: At the Jazz Corner of the World, Vol. 1". DownBeat. pp. 29–30.
  6. ^ Cook, Richard; Brian Morton (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings. The Penguin Guide to Jazz (9th ed.). London: Penguin. p. 133. ISBN 978-0-14-103401-0.