Artist page

Archetypal hard-bop group of the late 1950s, most date their origin to 1954 or '55 when the first recordings credited to the band appeared.
Playing a driving, aggressive extension of bop with pronounced blues roots, the group continued until Blakey's death in 1990.
The name Jazz Messengers had been used by art blakey earlier, but when horace silver and Blakey began working together in the early 1950's the name had been dormant several years. The Jazz Messengers formed as a collective, nominally led by Silver or Blakey. Blakey credited Silver with reviving the Messengers name for the group. The original lineup of Blakey, Silver, hank mobley, & kenny dorham, was relatively shortlived. By late 1956 art blakey was the remaining original member.
Over the years the Jazz Messengers served as a springboard for young jazz musicians, a proving ground for young jazz talent.

Members

• Art Blakey active
• Benny Golson active
• Bobby Timmons active
• Bobby Watson (2) active
• Brian Lynch active
• Buddy Terry active
• Cameron Brown active
• Carlos Garnett active
• Carter Jefferson active
• Cedar Walton active
• David Schnitter active
• Dennis Irwin active
• Donald Brown active
• Donald Byrd active
• Donald Harrison active
• Doug Watkins active
• Emanuel Boyd active
• Emmanuel Abdul-Rahim active
• Essiet Essiet active
• Frank Lacy active
• Freddie Hubbard active
• George Cables active
• Hank Mobley active
• Horace Silver active
• J.J. Johnson active
• Javon Jackson active
• John Gilmore active
• Johnny O'Neal active
• Jymie Merritt active
• Laverne Barker active
• Lawrence Evans active
• Lee Morgan active
• Mickey Bass active
• Mickey Tucker active
• Nat Bettis active
• Philip Harper active
• Ramon Morris active
• Ray Mantilla active
• Reggie Workman active
• Richard Landrum active
• Robin Eubanks active
• Sonny Morgan active
• Stanley Clarke active
• Steve Davis (7) active
• Valery Ponomarev active
• Walter Davis Jr. active
• Wayne Shorter active
• Woody Shaw active
• Albert Dailey inactive
• Barney Wilen inactive
• Benny Green inactive
• Bill Hardman inactive
• Billy Pierce inactive
• Charles Fambrough inactive
• Chuck Mangione inactive
• Curtis Fuller inactive
• Frank Mitchell inactive
• Geoff Keezer inactive
• Jackie McLean inactive
• James Williams (2) inactive
• Jan Arnet inactive
• Jean Toussaint inactive
• John Hicks inactive
• Johnny Griffin inactive
• Keith Jarrett inactive
• Kenny Dorham inactive
• Ladjl Camara inactive
• Lonnie Plaxico inactive
• Lucky Thompson inactive
• Mulgrew Miller inactive
• Peter Washington inactive
• Randy Brecker (#6) inactive
• Reggie Johnson inactive
• Ronnie Mathews inactive
• Sam Dockery inactive
• Spanky DeBrest inactive
• Terence Blanchard inactive
• Tim Williams (4) inactive
• Victor Sproles inactive
• Yoshio Suzuki inactive