Blakey Art, born Abdullah Ibn Buhaina, *11 October 1919 Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania), †16 October 1990 New York, American jazz drummer. He performed with the orchestras of F. Henderson (1939) and B. Eckstine (1944–47), among others. In 1955, he formed the Jazz Messengers quintet, one of the most representative hard bop bands. He is known for his lively, extremely expressive playing style. He enriched the jazz technique of drumming with rhythmic elements of African music.
He collaborated with F. Henderson, B. Eckstine, Th. Monk, M. Davies, and H. Silver. As a bandleader, he recorded albums including: A Night at Birdland 1954, Drum Suite 1957, A Message from Blakey Holiday for Skins 1958, Buttercorn Lady 1966, Jazz Messengers ‘70 1970, Anthenagin 1973, Album of the Year 1981.
Literature: M. Frost A. Blakey in St. Louis, “Metronome” LXIII, 1947; H. Lovett A. Blakey, “Metronome” LXXII, 1956; Z. Garno A. Blakey, “Jazz Review” III, 1960; J. Goldberg Jazz Masters of the Fifties, New York 1965, reprint 1980; B. Mintz Different Drummers, New York 1975; A. Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, “Swing Journal” XXXIII, 1979 (includes discography); I. Gitler A. Blakey. Speaks his Mind, “Jazz Magazine” 1979 No. 1; H. Nolan New Message from A. Blakey, “Down Beat” XLVI, 1979; P. Danson A. Blakey, “Coda” 1980 No. 173; B. Rusch A. Blakey. Interview, “Cadenze” VII, 1981; D.H. Rosenthal Conversation with A. Blakey. The Big Beat, “Black Perspective in Music” XIV, 1986.
