Art Blakey-Tony Williams Group – Live at Chateauvallon – August 20, 1972 – Radio France –
A Summit meeting this weekend: Art Blakey and Tony Williams on drums/percussion along with Jeremy Steig, George Cables, Stanley Clarke, Ray Mantilla and Buck Clarke, together on stage at Chateauvallon, France and preserved for posterity by Radio France.
I haven’t run any Art Blakey in a while and thought this would be perfect for the weekend.
I have long considered Blakey to be one of the central figures in re-shaping and re-imagining the role of drums and percussion in the ensemble setting; taking it from a metronomic foundation to becoming an integral part and highly evocative instrument capable of singing and shouting simultaneously. His influence has gone well beyond Jazz and has been a factor in the development of many drummers throughout the years (and continues to this day).
Tony Williams gained attention by joining Miles Davis in what was later dubbed Davis’s Second Great Quintet. Williams was a vital element of the group, called by Davis in his autobiography “the center that the group’s sound revolved around.” His playing helped redefine the role of the jazz rhythm section through the use of polyrhythms and metric modulation. Meanwhile, he recorded his first two albums as leader for Blue Note label, Life Time (1964) and Spring (1965). He also recorded as a sideman for the label including, in 1964, Out to Lunch! with Eric Dolphy and Point of Departure with Andrew Hill.
Putting them together on the same stage, and adding George Cables on Piano and Stanley Clarke on bass put it in the category of “not to be missed”.
So here you have it – turn it up and enjoy – dive in and breathe deep.
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