SKF NOTE: Already familiar with the original release of guitarist Kenny Burrell’s On View At The Five Spot Cafe, news of Blue Note releasing On View At The Five Spot Café: The Complete Masters is exciting news. Any chance I get to listen to newly released Art Blakey, I’m there. After listening to a few of this album’s remastered tracks, Blakey’s drums sound very alive.

Blakey remains essential listening, especially for drummers who’ve never before heard Blakey. His talent for driving bands of all sizes, loudly and softly; Blakey’s unique way of treating drumset rhythms melodically, his signature press roll and hi-hat playing; Blakey’s use of sticks, brushes, and mallets – modern drummers have much to learn from Art Blakey.

This album is an excellent place to start. I look forward to listening to the entire album.

Here’s some of Blue Note’s album announcement.

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On View At The Five Spot Café: The Complete Masters, a special Tone Poet Vinyl Edition of guitarist Kenny Burrell’s 1959 hard bop summit with drummer Art Blakey, is out now! The expanded 3-LP, 2-CD & digital sets present the complete recorded performances for the first time including 6 previously unissued tracks.

Produced for release from Rudy Van Gelder’s original master tapes.

Burrell had already achieved rising star status with several stellar Blue Note albums to his name when he entered the storied NYC jazz club The Five Spot Café on August 25, 1959, for his first live recording date as a leader. The band Burrell assembled for the gig was stacked with top talent: Blakey on drums, Tina Brooks on tenor saxophone, Roland Hanna & Bobby Timmons on piano & Ben Tucker on bass. The mood was relaxed & soulful, but the music was red hot & the grooves were deep on that steamy summer evening of hard bop bliss.