The African Beat

The African Beat
Studio album by Art Blakey and The Afro-Drum Ensemble
Released November 1962
Recorded January 24, 1962
Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs
Genre Jazz
Length 40:15
Label Blue Note
BST 84097
Producer Alfred Lion
Art Blakey chronology

Buhaina's Delight
(1961)
The African Beat
(1962)
Three Blind Mice
(1962)
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [1]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide [2]

The African Beat is a jazz album released by Art Blakey and The Afro-Drum Ensemble in November 1962 on Blue Note Records.[3] He described it as the first opportunity he had to work with drummers from Africa; as a blend of American jazz with the traditional rhythms and tonal colors in the percussion of that continent. The album features compositions by African and American musicians, all based on aspects of West African (especially Nigerian) music.[4]

Track listing

  1. "Prayer by Solomon G. Ilori" - 0:55
  2. "Ife L'ayo (There Is Happiness in Love)" (Solomon G. Ilori) - 5:31
  3. "Obirin African (Woman of Africa)" (Garvin Masseaux) - 3:45
  4. "Love, The Mystery of" (Guy Warren) - 9:22
  5. "Ero Ti Nr'Ojeje" (Ilori) - 7:33
  6. "Ayiko, Ayiko (Welcome, Welcome, My Darling)" (Ilori) - 7:13
  7. "Tobi Ilu" (James H. Bey) - 5:56

Personnel

References

  1. Allmusic review
  2. Swenson, J. (Editor) (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. p. 25. ISBN 0-394-72643-X.
  3. Billboard, 1 Dec 1962, p. 20.
  4. Original liner notes by Nat Hentoff