“Jazz washes away the dust of everyday life.” The inimitable spirit and philosophy of legendary drummer and bandleader Art Blakey has never rang so clear and true as it does in 2020. Blakey’s historic group, The Jazz Messengers, carried the torch for nearly 40 years from bebop through hard bop right up to contemporary jazz stylings. His group showcased the development and fire of the young lions, establishing the careers of luminaries such as Wayne Shorter, Freddie Hubbard, Wynton Marsalis and Bobby Watson. Blakey’s unrelenting drive pushed these youngsters through his “jazz graduate school,” until releasing them to take the message of jazz their own creative direction. Please join our KCJO6 tribute on October 3rd at at 6:00pm.