Ritual: The Modern Jazz Messengers

Ritual: The Modern Jazz Messengers
Studio album by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers
Released	January 14, 1957 and February 11, 1957
Genre	Jazz
Length	61:30
Label	Blue Note (1988) Pacific Jazz (1988) Capitol (1990) Blue Note (1995)
Producer	George Avakian Michael Cuscuna
Art Blakey chronology
Blakey (1954) Ritual (1957) Drum Suite (1956-57)
The Jazz Messengers chronology
Drum Suite (1956-57) Ritual (1957) A Midnight Session with the Jazz Messengers

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

Ritual: The Modern Jazz Messengers is a 1957 release by the Jazz Messengers featuring Art Blakey. It was first released by Pacific Jazz Records and has seen reissues on CD since 1988 from that same label and subsequently from Blue Note Records. It was also reissued in 1990 by Capitol Records."^[2] This album features all the recordings from Once Upon a Groove, which was also released in 1957 and two additional tracks by Art Blakey. This album is highlighted by hard-swinging sounds from saxophonist Jackie McLean, who previously made his debut with Miles Davis in 1951, and trumpeter Bill Hardman, who played with Charles Mingus during the previous year earlier in 1956.

Track listing

1. "Little T." (Donald Byrd)- 8:46
2. "Exhibit A" (Art Blakey, Lee Sears) - 6:44
3. "Scotch Blues" (Duke Jordan) - 8:31
4. "Once Upon a Groove" (Owen Marshall) - 8:36
5. "Sam's Tune" (Sam Dockery) - 5:52
6. "Touche" (Mal Waldron) - 6:16
7. "Wake Up!" (Lee Sears) - 5:04
8. "Art Blakey's Comments on Ritual" (Art Blakey) - 1:55
9. "Ritual" (Art Blakey) - 9:59

Personnel

Art Blakey Quintet

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

Production

• George Avakian - Original Session Producer
• Michael Cuscuna - Liner Notes
• Ron McMaster - Digital Transfers
• John Altoon - Cover Art

References

1. Allmusic review
2. Ron Wynn. "Ritual: The Modern Jazz Messengers". Retrieved 2009-06-21.