Art Blakey & The New Jazz Messengers- Buttercorn Lady

Label: Elemental 

Reissued 9/11/2026, Originally released 1966

As these words are written, Art Blakey continues to lead with the same energy and authority that has defined his career, keeping the New Messengers a vital force in modern jazz. At the heart of the band is the remarkably gifted young pianist Keith Jarrett, born May 8, 1945, in Allentown, Pennsylvania. From his earliest days, Jarrett displayed an uncanny facility for music, performing professionally before his teens and already commanding attention with extended solo concerts by the mid-1960s. His playing on this album ranges from soulful interpretation to daring experimentation, giving the listener only a taste of the extraordinary breadth he brings to every performance. Joining Jarrett are Reggie Johnson on bass, whose background spans trombone, army bands, and work with leading modern jazz artists, and Frank Mitchell on tenor sax, a forceful improviser who drives the band's intensity forward. Together they form a unit that balances precision with fire, responding to Blakey’s polyrhythmic leadership with remarkable agility. This record is, above all, a testament to a band operating at peak energy, a young ensemble guided by a master, blending improvisation, structure, and sheer excitement. It preserves the spirit of a live experience, the excitement of a club performance, and the brilliance of musicians who were, even at this early stage, shaping the future of jazz.

Track listing:

1. Buttercorn Lady
2. Recuerdo 
3. The Theme
4. Between Races
5. My Romance (From 'Jumbo')
6. Secret Love