Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers - Ritual +2 (1957) {Japan Pacific Jazz CP32-5374, Early Press}

A hard-swinging cooker from Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers – recorded during the landmark year of 1957 – when Blakey's group was open to recording for a number of different labels, in a number of different settings! The set was originally done for the west coast stalwart Pacific Jazz, but it's got a sound that's much more in the hardbop mode of the New York scene – all the fire and intensity that Blakey first cooked up for Blue Note, cast out with a slight sense of openness here in the less iconic setting. Players include Jackie McLean on alto, Bill Hardman on trumpet, and Sam Dockery on piano – and the album's right up there with Vik/RCA, Savoy, and Chess material they cut at the time.

Personnel:
Art Blakey - Drums
Bill Hardman - Trumpet
Spanky DeBrest - Bass
Sam Dockery - Piano
Jackie McLean - Alto Sax

tracklist:
01 - Little T (bonus track)
02 - Exhibit A (bonus track)
03 - Scotch Blues
04 - Once Upon A Groove
05 - Sam's Tune
06 - Touche
07 - Wake Up
08 - Art Blakey's Comments On Ritual
09 - Ritual