The Afro-Cuban Messengers

It's great that it's finally Friday, as I'm sure all of you will agree. Time to relax and catch up on some much needed rest. Anyways, I thought I would end the week with a funky Afro-Cuban jazz cut from Art Blakey titled "No Hay Problema". This Latin-flavoured track was originally released on the 1960 French soundtrack Les Liaisons Dangereuses. Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers were responsible for the film's entire soundtrack and features a few versions of the "No Hay Problema" song. The most notable version of the song, featured below, was also included on the first volume of the incredible compilation series Mojo Club Presents Dancefloor Jazz. Overall, it's a great track that goes nicely with all those refreshing Happy Hour cocktails. Enjoy!

Art Blakey - No Hay Problema

The African Beat

I'm going to share something a little different today and focus on one of my favorite jazz artists of all-time in drummer Art Blakey. There is probably at least a few novels worth of information you could say about Blakey, his music, the musicians he performed with, and his increadible influence he had on jazz music in general. However today I thought I would focus on one of the record's I recently picked-up, titled "The African Beat". This album, which originally was released in 1962 features Blakey going in a bit of a different direction and abandoning his usual backing group, The Jazz Messagers for one album, and playing with a slightly different cast of musicians that included Ahmed Abdul-Malik on bass, Yusef Lateef on horns and piano, Curtis Fuller on tympani, percussionists Solomon G. Ilori and Montego Joe along with a host of others which where given the name The Afro-Drum Ensemble. As the title of the album suggests, this record's overall sound blends together jazz with African-style percussion. Some of the record's many highlight's include "Tobi Ilu", "Ife l'Ayo", and "Obirin African" and my personal favorite "Ayiko, Ayiko". If your looking for a good crossover African jazz record, Blakey's "The African Beat" could be a great starting point as the record has a heavy leaning towards the more African percussion side. Overall the album is just another classic release from one of jazz music's finest. Enjoy!

Art Blakey & The Afro-Drum Ensemble - Ayiko, Ayiko