European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 27, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Profile Art Blakey the master has a message by de Reavis Sliff writer How often does one meet a culture hero on the St feel there1 he was. Art Blakey the jazz messenger pushing a baby Carriage Down a Street in Darmstadt Germany. In his hotel room before his gig at a local club  talked Aboul his life family and work fleshing Oul Llie dry Bones found on he Back of album covers and in official biographical sketches. If the claim of musicologist is Correct  1h l Century of the violin was followed by that of the piano and we Are the now enjoying the age of the percussion instruments Blakey is in the forefront at age 6fl, he is still going Strong emphasizing the drumming style he defined in the 195ffs. The critics Call it hard Bop but Blakey brushes off the Labelling. I play african poly rhythms they can Call in what they want. I m just concerned with making Good music and driving the other cats All the  Blancey spent nearly two years in inner Nigeria working on drumming techniques. Ii was there he look the name Abdullah Ibn Buhina which he used  said i Hal during one of his 52 Tours of Nipa a a professor at a Tokyo University demonstrated a computer that recorded one of his drum solos and could take in apart and play it Back in any sequence. " Damn i told him very impressive. But i bet you can t put any Black soul in that machine the professor laughed and said i was right Blakey came up through what used to be called the school of hard knocks. There were some hard rows to Hoe but also Many wonderful limes Loo. I be been a Man for a Long time Shotgun wedding at 14 and a family to support the wedding was the Only time my father showed up i n the House is Rice walking out before my birth. His family did t like my mother1 because they were too dark. You remember that nonsense Blakey had some piano lessons in High school and was playing music full time leading his own commercial band when he was in the seventh Grade. Shortly thereafter he switched from piano to Drums and Laughl himself to play in the aggressive swing style of Eifu Sid i visit and Chick Webb. In 1942 he played with Mary Lou Williams no Kelly 5 stables in new York before joining the Fletcher Henderson orchestra in 1943. "1 went South to play a Job with f Letch for Black troops in Georgia.  was Back in the Days of strict segregation so the Black troops could t use the base theater. The concert was to be hell in a tobacco barn. I was Travell inn with this while musician when we were arrested in Albany Ca. The cop told his sergeant Al the station when we got there i got a Nigger and a Nigger Lover the sergeant asked what we had clone and when the of said  wiil. Well find something he wine out and they both parted  me Wilh their clubs. Drummer Art bulk to is one of the giants Olja it. Collapsed and could t get any adequate medical treatment until i was brought backlog Boston. I stil Karry a Metal plate in my head from that  despite that experience no one is a fiercer defender of jazz music As an american Art form that transcends race than Blakey. Blakey not Only believes that other races Ca n play Good jazz he s proved it in his own group the highly praised jazz messengers which has been going Strong for More than 30 years. There Are a lot of while musicians too that paid i heir dues because they believe in this  b Lakey praises the while musicians who worked with the messengers such As Dennis Erwin As one of the finest bassists the group has known David Schiller an invaluable Tenor and Soprano sax player and composer and the russian trumpeter Valeri Ponomarev who played with the group in 1977, Blakey com pares Tonui Iliev i style to the lyrical Horn of Clifford Brown. Blakey also had a woman pianist from 1070 to 72, Joanne Brackeen. One night when were playing Atlanta Ca., some dude came up to the bandstand and shouted How come you got a while woman on the piano i looked Down a1  and said of really i thought i bid a pianist. I la take a look during the next break " Blakey has  plenty of kids under his win. I Vegol 1-1 children. Seven of them Are adopted there Are seven languages spoken in my family including japanese bul i Don t  family reunion nonsense. My oldest is so and she s .1 do Tor in Dusseldorf on his Lour Babkey look along a toddler and another son in a Carriage. Although Blakey said he does not encourage any of his children to become musicians Art Blakey or. Did become a drummer but mainly teaches. Speaking about his own development Blakey has often been quoted As saying his three years with the Billy Eckline band were the most formative in his life it was during that period that he played with Miles Davis Dexter Gordon fats Navarro and others. The Eckstine band came to be the proving ground of what was later to be called hard  when inc Eckstine band broke up Blakey played in turn with Lucky Millinder 1949 and the Boniface buddy do Franco combo 1951 -53 before forming the jazz messengers in 1954, composed of Horace Silver Donald Byrd Kenny Dorham Hank Mobley and Doug Atkinston jazzmen consider the Blakey school or the jazz messengers the Best learning ground for newcomers and the names of musicians thai have passed through the band Are legion. Jackie Mclean a messenger graduate has been quoted As saying think Art Blakey is one of the finest band leaders morally for a Young musician As far As sticking with a Young Man and making him feet secure on inc Road and feel secure working Wilh his  i Don l stand for anything cute or Tricky. I Tell them to  heir ideas and get it right when they can do it All they  n move   said the Only thine that really annoys him besides bad music is the lock of recognition for Zzz As serious music As an Art form in the United states. They be Rippet d off our music for generations Fine k l them keep the Money bul the least they could do would be to give credit to where in belongs to Duke l Lington and the other rats  in  Chow Down with Clem the Chance of a to Mark the Start of Clem Lounder s third year in print we re offering Chow Ine readers a Tare _ Opportunity the Chance to win a free dinner with the old sergeant himself. Like a things associated Wilh Clem the " contest is simple. Just write Down 100 words or so explaining Why you think you deserve a free meal with the master of Munch. The Only catch is this entries Mua be written choline style As if Clem a. Himself were the author. The most convincing essay a i Mylo that Best approximates Clem s unique grammatical grumblings wins a free dinner and the Chance to be " highlighted in an upcoming Chow Rne feature. Specific Type nde1 All entries must be postmarked no later thin sell. In and become the property of the Slars and stripes. Entries should include Hyime  la phone  i it Toje. Maji entries to choline  a stripes apoinycbj11. The incan a is Post Idit tj7 &1 of Darrn Slade 1 \ i the win Ina entry and  Augeni printed in in e cup line Colour Fri o oct a the decision of the judges however mis 24  to gut 27, 1937