Wynton Marsalis
The most amazing thing about Art was his tremendous strength; not just physical strength, but integrity. If you were around him, that integrity would rub off on you. He believed in the music and he loved people. If he could walk, he would be on the bandstand, because he loved playing and he loved bringing joy to the people. He looked out for a lot of musicians down through the years, gave them drum kits and other things. When I started, I couldn’t believe that I was going to get to play with him, especially since I sounded so sad when I’d sat in with him. But he would give you time to develop. He wouldn’t pass a hasty judgment on you.
Branford Marsalis
Most bands just listen to each other theoretically — if you play F#, they play F# and they grin at each other like they’re doing something hip. But Art was the one who really listened. He used to tell me, “You’ve got good reflexes, use them.” He’d tell me stories: “Charlie Parker would be playing and a fine woman would walk in the club and he sees her and plays, ‘Where Have I Known You Before?’ And hour later, some sailors would come in and he’d quote ‘Anchors Aweigh’.” What he was telling me was that the quote was valid because it relates to something in the present. Most musicians play the quotes they practiced. Art realized that the real essence of what bebop represented was gone, because now everyone played ‘prepared’.
Art was a very good showman. He was always smiling when he played and he had that whole routine down. I didn’t like that at first. [I thought] you were supposed to be a young black man with an attitude. But now when I do my show, we tell jokes; it’s not as prepared as Art’s routine was but I understand now that when you’re playing some music as difficult as this, you have to find an alternative way to bring the audience in, because left to the merits of their own intelligence, they wouldn’t know what the fuck was going on.
The funny thing about being on tour with rock bands is that these guys think they’re wild. People used to ask me if it was wild working with Sting and I’d say if you multiplied it 10 times, it wouldn’t amount to one week with Art Blakey. He was the original wild man, and he did some funny shit, but most of it is unpublishable.
Ben Riley (July 1933-November 2017) RIP
I think my most lasting impression of Art is the understanding he had for the younger players. He always had advice that was helpful. I remember one time I was doing something, I was probably pressing, and Art came up to me and said, “You know your have nothing to prove. Just go off and have fun.” And I always remember that, especially when things get rough. So physically, he’s no longer here, but spiritually, Art will always be here. He’s a guy that, if you knew him, he’d touch you, and if you didn’t, you listen to the records and he touches you. Those recordings with Dizzy and Monk — it almost sounds like they’re going to walk through the door! Art left such a heavy message that you have to feel it.
Copyright ©️ Karen Bennett, 1991, 2023
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