Mulgrew Miller

Keystone 3

Art Blakey · 1982

Wingspan

Mulgrew Miller · 1987

Mulgrew MillerMulgrew Millerマルグリュー・ミラー came up in Woody ShawWoody Shawウディ・ショウ's band, then moved to Art BlakeyArt Blakeyアート・ブレイキー's Jazz Messengers (1983–86), then to Tony WilliamsTony Williamsトニー・ウィリアムス's acoustic quintet. He carried the hard bop tradition with elegance while consistently seeking out younger musicians. He anchored many of Kenny GarrettKenny Garrettケニー・ギャレット's most important recordings.

— Blue Note Records: The Biography, Richard Cook, 2001

Pursuance: The Music of John Coltrane

Kenny Garrett · 1996

Wingspan

Mulgrew Miller · 1987

Double Take

Freddie Hubbard / Woody Shaw · 1985

Simply Said

Kenny Garrett · 1999

Kenny Garrett didn't audition his way into Woody Shaw's band — his roommates let him in. His flatmates, drummer Tony Reedus and pianist Mulgrew Miller, were already in Shaw's group, and on Sunday nights Shaw would open up a set and let the still-unknown Garrett blow. The three would later share a record on Double Take (1985).

— Statement stmt-kenny-garrett-on-woody-shaw-2

Chris DaveChris Daveクリス・デイヴ's national jazz debut came on Kenny GarrettKenny Garrettケニー・ギャレット's Simply Said (1999). After a career path from gospel to Mint Condition (touring drummer) to the Janet Jackson World Tour, this album — featuring Pat Metheny and Marcus Miller — established him as a jazz drummer.

— Rolling Stone: Superdrummer Chris Dave

Black Codes (From the Underground)

Wynton Marsalis · 1985

Wingspan

Mulgrew Miller · 1987

Work!

Mulgrew Miller · 1986

Kenny Kirkland

Kenny Kirkland · 1991

In 1985, bassist Charnett Moffett was just 17 and largely unknown when he recorded Wynton Marsalis's landmark album Black Codes (From the Underground). The record became a jazz classic, and it put a teenager at the center of the scene.

Mode for Joe

Joe Henderson · 1966

Deciphering the Message

Makaya McCraven · 2021

Life Time

Tony Williams · 1964

Night Music

Woody Shaw · 1983

Vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson died in 2016, yet his name is credited on the 2021 album Deciphering the Message. The record layers archival tape of his old Blue Note-era performances under new rhythm tracks, so a musician already gone five years still 'plays' on it.

Hard Champion

Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers · 1987

Feeling Good

Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers · 1992

Kenny Garrett says Art Blakey's press roll wasn't just a dynamic cue — dropping it in the second chorus forced the soloist to resolve whatever they were saying, right then. Garrett calls it Blakey's way of teaching young Jazz Messengers how to become bandleaders themselves.

— Statement stmt-kenny-garrett-on-art-blakey