Timeline: The Message Before the Messengers: Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers '47-'58

Dec 27, 1947

New Sounds

Blue Note 10" reissued as a split recording w/James Moody's modernists from a later recording session. New Sounds

Dec 13, 1954

Horace Silver and the Jazz Messengers

Originally Vol. 3 from 12/13/1954 & Vol.4 2/6/1955 collected in the reissue - the other Horace Silver collection features a trio w/ percussion and Blakey on it. Horace Silver & the Jazz Messengers

Period: Dec 13, 1954 to Nov 23, 1955

Original Jazz Messengers

A collective featuring: Mobley, Dorham, Watkins, Silver & Blakey.
Leader albums (feat. 3+ Messengers)
- 1/30 & 3/29/55 - Kenny Dorham - “Afro-Cuban”
- 3/27/55 - “Hank Mobley Quartet”

Nov 23, 1955

The Jazz Messengers at the Cafe Bohemia

Original Jazz Messengers first recording, not under Horace Silver's name.

Period: Dec 2, 1955 to May 4, 1956

Jazz Messengers w/ Donald Byrd

Otherwise same line up, and still likely collaborative.
Leader Albums w/ 3+ Messengers.
- 12/2/55 - Donald Byrd - “Byrd's Eye View"
- 1/30 & 2/8/56 - “The Jazz Message of Hank Mobley”
- 7/2,17&18/56 - Horace Silver -"Silver's Blue”
- 7/20/56 - “Mobley’s Message”
- 7/23 & 11/7/56 - Hank Mobley - “Jazz Message No. 2”
- 7/27/56 - “Mobley's 2nd Message”
- 11/10/56 - Horace Silver - “6 Pieces of Silver”
- 11/25/56 - “Hank Mobley Sextet”
- 12/8/56 - Doug Watkins - “Watkin’s at Large”

Apr 6, 1956

The Jazz Messengers

Byrd takes over for Dorham and Silver leaves, 5/4/1956 is the 2nd recording date.

Dec 12, 1956

Hard Bop

2nd Messengers real debut, includes material from the 12/13/56 date.

Dec 13, 1956

Drum Suite

Debut tracks for the 2nd Jazz Messengers paired w/ 2 other dates, an earlier date with a Percussion Ensemble and a later date w/ Byrd, Ware, Drew & Sullivan.

Period: Dec 13, 1956 to Mar 9, 1957

New Jazz Messengers

Led by Art Blakey featuring: Hardman, McLean, Dockery & DeBrest.
Leader albums w/ 3+ Messengers
- 1/13/57 - “Hank Mobley and His All Stars”
- 3/8/57 - “Hank Mobley Quintet”
Heavily Messengered sideman albums w/ Blakey
- 2/11/57 - “A Date with Jimmy Smith V. 1 & V.2”
- 3/3/57 - Gilmore/Jordan “Blowing in from Chicago”

1957

Tough!

2nd JM, not released until 1966, Spring '57

Jan 14, 1957

Ritual

2nd Messengers

Mar 8, 1957

A Midnight Session with the Jazz Messengers

2nd JM & 3/9/57

Mar 13, 1957

Selections from Lerner & Loewe's

2nd JM

Period: Mar 13, 1957 to Oct 11, 1957

New Jazz Messengers w/ Johnny Griffin

Johnny Griffin takes the place of McLean, and occasionally they both appear together.
Heavily Messengered sidemen albums w/ Blakey
- 4/14/57 - “Sonny Rollins, Vol. 2”