In celebration of Art Blakey's 100th birthday, Valery Ponomarev keeps the Blakey 'spirit' active w/ some of NY's finest!

Jazz: Big Band

Valery Ponomarev Big Band is:


Valery Ponomarev, leader & trumpet

Victor Jones, drums

Ruslan Khain, bass

Mamiko Watanabe, piano

Todd Bashore (lead), Chris Hemingway - alto saxes

Peter Brainin (lead), Steven Carrington - tenor saxes

Anthony Nelson, baritone sax

Stafford Hunter (lead), Alvin Walker, Jimmy O'Connel, Jack Jeffers - trombones

Rick Henly (lead), David Neves, Antoine Drye, Waldron Ricks - trumpets

Stepping into the legacy of Clifford Brown, Kenny Dorham, Donald Byrd, Lee Morgan, Freddie Hubbard, Bill Hardman, Wynton Marsalis and the many others that followed Valery in the group, Valery Ponomarevwas a totally unknown musician from Russia, only in the USA for a few years, when he became the Messengers' trumpeter. Art Blakey became a 'father-figure' of sorts for Valery as the Messengers 'roared' through Valery's time with the group. (1976-1980).

Art Blakey's leadership set a standard for all groups of the bebop and hard bop group to follow. The many incarnations of the Messengers were arguably some of the greatest jazz groups of all time. The Messenger repertoire is well represented on this LIVE recording with excellent soloists spread throughout the band.

Composers of the tunes are as follows:


Overture (Valery Ponomarev)

Tell It Like It Is (Wayne Shorter)

Are you real? (Benny Golson)

One By One (Wayne Shorter)

Caravan (Juan Tizol & Duke Ellington)

Webb City (Earl 'Bud' Powell)

Hammer Head (Wayne Shorter)

Quick Silver (Horace Silver)

Kalypso* to Theme Song (Benny Golson/Public Domain)

Track Listing

• Overture
• Tell It Like It Is
• Are you real'
• One By One
• Caravan
• Webb City
• Hammer Head
• Quick Silver
• Kalypso to Theme Song

Additional Details

Label: Summit Records

Genre: Jazz

Language: English

Run Time: 53:50 mins

Region: 0

Release Date: 01/17/20

UPC: 099402758923