ART BLAKEY AND THE JAZZ MESSENGERS
Reflections of Buhania, Featuring Bill Hardman
Savoy Jazz
92879-2

THE BIRTH OF HARD BOP
Featuring Lee Morgan, Donald Byrd, and Hank Mobley
Savoy Jazz
92905-2

I am usually skeptical whenever a record company repackages existing material under the blanket of reissue, but Savoy's recent releases of mid and late '50s bop recordings are something altogether different. Producer Orrin Keepnews has combined several shorter albums and miscellaneous tracks to create several products which showcase an individual artist or trend. Two in particular are worthy of note: Art Blakey's Reflections of Buhania featuring Bill Hardman, and The Birth of Hard Bop featuring Lee Morgan, Donald Byrd, and Hank Mobley.

Buhania is a most interesting album, and features one of The Messengers' lesser known lineups. Blakey is joined by Sam Dockery and Spanky DeBrest in the rhythm section, and the three are cooking, pure and simple. (When you think about it though, have there ever really been any Art Blakey recordings that aren't?) Jackie McLean is on fire as well, moving well beyond the obvious Bird-inspired cliches. Bill Hardman is solid, if not too original, but still lacks an innovative style. Yet here we see the ingenuity of this collection. The album is completed by four tracks from 1961's The Bill Hardman Quintet, which show an immense amount of growth in the four intermittent years. Hardman seems to have found his own unique voice, best demonstrated by his interepretation of the classic "Angel Eyes." The overall effect of this inclusion is a well-balanced, logical collection.

The Birth of Hard Bop is the inaugural album of the Savoy Rare Jazz Sessions. Featured here are Donald Byrd, Hank Mobley, Lee Morgan, Barry Harris, Art Taylor, Horace Silver, and Kenny Clarke, in various arrangements taken from several different recordings. Highlighted is the contrast between the seasoned, polished, and purely elegant style of Donald Byrd, and that of 18-year-old Lee Morgan, whose sound is like raw adrenaline. Even at such a young age, Morgan is demonstrating the first glimmers of the style that would make him so celebrated. This two-disc set is packed from start to finish with great music, and arranged in such a way to allow the listener to make similar comparisons and draw intelligent conclusions about this magical era in jazz history.

These two releases by Savoy have something to offer everyone. For those still exploring the world of jazz, they are an excellent introduction to post-Clifford Brown trumpet players, and to the pre-Blue Note careers of many of jazz's most influential players. For the accomplished collector, there are some previously unissued tracks and remastered sound quality, as well as new and copious liner notes.

Matthew Topic

Reflections of Buhania Track Listing: 1. Casino; 2. The Biddie Griddies; 3. Potpourri; 4. Ugh!; 5. Mirage; 6. Reflections of Buhania; 7. Study in Rhythm; 8. Angel Eyes; 9. Jo B.; 10. With Malice Towards None; 11. Capers

Personnel (1-7): Bill Hardman, trumpet; Jackie McLean, alto sax; Sam Dockery, piano; Spanky DeBrest, bass; Art Blakey, drums Personnel (8-10): Bill Hardman, trumpet; "Sonny Red" (Sylvester Kyner), alto sax; Ronnie Mathews, piano; Doug Watkins, bass; Jimmy Cobb, drums Personnel (11): Same as 8-10, with Bob Cunningham replacing Doug Watkins, bass

The Birth of Hard Bop
Disc One
Track Listing : 1. Budo; 2. I Married an Angel; 3. The Jazz Message; 4. There Will Never Be Another You; 5. Cattin' (alternate take); 6. Cattin'; 7. Madeline; 8. When I Fall In Love; 9. Space Flight (previously unissued); 10. Space Flight; 11. Blues Number Two (previously unissued); 12. Blues Number Two

Personnel (1-3): Donald Byrd, trumpet; John LaPorta, alto sax; Horace Silver, piano; Wendell Marshall, bass; Kenny Clarke, drums Personnel (4-8): Danald Byrd, trumpet; Hank Mobley, tenor sax; Ronnie Ball, piano; Doug Watkins, bass; Kenny Clarke, drums Personnel (9-12): Same as 4-8, with Barry Harris replacing Ronnie Ball, piano

Disc Two
Track Listing: 1. B. for B.B. (previously unissued); 2. B. for B.B.; 3. Hank's Shout; 4. Bet; 5. Nostalgia; 6. Thad's Blues; 7. A-1; 8. A-1 (previously unissued); 9. Doug's Minor Bouk

Personnel (1-2): Same as Disc One, Tracks 9-12 Personnel (3-9): Lee Morgan, trumpet; Hank Mobley, tenor sax; Hank Jones, piano; Doug Watkins, bass; Arthur Taylor, drums