Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers - In My Prime Vol. 2 (1977) {2015 Japan Timeless Jazz Master Collection Complete Series}

Reissue with the latest remastering. Features original cover artwork. Comes with a descripton in Japanese. Leader of The Jazz Messengers at the time of this recording for over 22 years, drummer Art Blakey was still discovering new talent. In addition to altoist Bobby Watson, trumpeter Valeri Ponomarev and David Schnitter on tenor, this particular session introduced the great pianist James Williams to The Messenger fold. Despite the changes in musical fashions, Art Blakey and his hard-bop institution were still turning out new material and solos in the late '70s that sound fresh and alive today.

You gotta love the confidence in Blakey's title for this one – because even in the late 70s, over 20 years since starting the Jazz Messengers, he was still very much in his prime! The album has him working with a wonderful group that includes Bobby Watson, Curtis Fuller, David Schnitter, and James Williams – plus percussionist Ray Mantilla, added in on a few tracks to give the set a slightly fuller sound. Tracks are long, dynamic, and gorgeous – really stepping out with the warmth and imagination that Blakey never let die during his career – but which seemed to be buring as brightly during this stretch as it was during the few really noteworthy points of earlier years. The set features Watson's "Hawkman", plus "Time Will Tell", "People Who Laugh", and "Ronnies's A Dynamite Lady".

Personnel:
Art Blakey - drums
Valery Ponomarev - trumpet
Curtis Fuller - trombone
Robert Watson - alto saxophone
David Schnitter - tenor saxophone
James Williams - piano
Dennis Irwin - bass
Ray Mantilla - percussion

tracklist:
01 - Lift Every Voice And Sing
02 - Free For All
03 - Hawkman
04 - People Who Laugh
05 - Time Will Tell
06 - Ronnie's A Dynamite Lady